Funding & Esports: Patience is the Key to Success

At the political opening of gamescom, both Federal Minister Dorothee Bär and North Rhine-Westphalia Minister President Hendrik Wüst emphasized their support for making Germany a world leader in the gaming industry. However, it is also clear that neither the tax incentive model nor the recognition of esports can be implemented overnight.

Those who had hoped for concrete progress in the near future were disappointed: Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär was unable to announce any breakthroughs regarding a tax-based funding model in her speech at the opening of gamescom in Cologne. The project is too large and far-reaching for all obstacles to have been cleared within the 100 days or so that Bär has been in office.

Seen in this light, the minister may have come to Cologne “empty-handed,” but on the other hand, she has already pushed forward so many games projects in recent months that this would have been enough for three gamescom openings for other politicians.

Bär, on the other hand, seized the opportunity and also called on the industry to deliver. On the one hand, it is important to make use of the funding that has been available since August 1. On the other hand, she called on exhibitors to try to get politicians interested in games and esports when they visit their stands. She said she was confident that together they could achieve the goals of a tax incentive model and recognition of esports as a non-profit activity during this legislative period, ideally before it ends.

Hendrik Wüst, Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, also reaffirmed his support for the industry and presented concrete measures. For example, North Rhine-Westphalia has revised its funding guidelines so that federal and state funding work better together. North Rhine-Westphalia presented the various measures at its own booth during a separate event.

Both Wüst and Bär emphasized several times how important it is for the federal and state governments to pull together, especially if they want to implement the tax-based model agreed in the coalition agreement. However, pulling together does not apply to all areas. During the tour that took place beforehand, the minister and minister-president had the opportunity to play Mario Kart World against each other, where the games minister made it clear who has more experience with the industry's products.

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