Last week, EIT Culture & Creativity joined the global gaming community at Gamescom 2025, the world’s leading trade fair for video games, held annually in Cologne, Germany.
“Gamescom provides an essential platform to ensure Europe isn’t left behind” when it comes to the games sector, our CEO Anette Schäfer said. “At EIT Culture & Creativity, we are committed to maintaining and growing the EU gaming market share, unlocking the sector’s full potential for innovation, cross-sector contributions, and societal impact.”
From international meetups to exclusive networking sessions, Gamescom offered a unique platform for us to build bridges between creative talent, investment networks, and institutions.
Our team was on the ground for four dynamic days, fostering new collaborations and furthering our mission.
Day 1:
The week started with the International Incubation Morning Meetup, where leading players from the incubation ecosystem exchanged insights. Mr. Sho Sati from the International Game Developers Association’s Incubation SIG shared the latest updates on global initiatives, followed by KölnBusiness, a business directory and one of our core partners, presenting the activities of Cologne’s Games Syndicate. The session concluded with a lively networking round, aimed at forging new collaborations and partnerships.
Later, we attended the prestigious European Game Night, an event sponsored in part by EIT Culture & Creativity. Our team had the opportunity to advocate for the organisation’s mission, connect with innovative studios, and promote our upcoming open calls to an international audience.
The evening continued with the Coutts Drinks & Networking Event, where our CEO Anette Schäfer engaged in insightful discussions with the Director of Coutts Bank, Paul Franks. These conversations facilitated valuable connections, including with Louise Conolly-Smith, Head of Creative Technology Grow City of London, strengthening our efforts to position EIT Culture & Creativity as a strategic partner in Europe’s creative industries landscape.
The day concluded with a networking dinner hosted by Vienna Business Agency, one of our core partners in the South East & Alps Regional Hub. This event offered an ideal platform to present our upcoming opportunities and reinforce awareness of our services among international studios and stakeholders.
Day 2:
Following a successful first day, we continued the next morning with a working lunch with SpielFabrique, a European video game accelerator, where we discussed emerging industry trends, alongside strategies for better supporting startups and scale-ups. Our conversation highlighted the need for nuanced approaches, particularly in gaming, where technology and content are often deeply interconnected.
At the Gaming Malta stand, we met with the team to explore future collaborations and engage with startups showcasing their games, capturing a memorable moment with a team photo.
The evening featured the Berlin Brandenburg Reception, hosted by Medianet BerlinBrandenburg, a major network representing over 400 companies across Germany’s media, creative, and digital sectors. During the reception, German State Secretary Michael Biel emphasized the region’s leading role in the creative industries and its strong commitment to fostering cross-sector collaboration.
Later, we attended the Cologne Business Mixer, an exclusive, invitation-only event organized by our partner KölnBusiness. High-level discussions explored innovation, collaboration, and the future of gaming globally. The evening featured opening remarks by city leaders, including Deputy Mayor Andree Haack, KölnBusiness CEO Manfred Janssen, and H.E. Ms. Jiraporn Sinhunprai from the Royal Thai Government, who announced that the inaugural edition of Gamescom Asia will take place in Bangkok this October.
Anette Schäfer, our CEO, represented EIT Culture & Creativity during this event, engaging with international industry leaders and highlighting our mission while sharing our upcoming opportunities.
The day closed with the UKIE Investor Dinner, hosted by UKIE and the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, bringing together studios, investors, and corporate leaders such as Tencent Cloud to explore synergies in the gaming sector.
Day 3:
The conference’s halfway point focused on investment connections, with an exclusive matchmaking session for curated studios and gaming-tech startups to pitch to potential investors. This session provided a valuable opportunity for our team to engage with peers from the investment community and explore opportunities to co-create value within the European gaming landscape.
In the evening, we joined Gaming Malta’s Networking Dinner, strengthening ties with Maltese studios, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders while showcasing our support services and active calls.
Day 4:
Gamescom concluded with the Games Brunch, hosted by SpielFabrique and gaming company Terragami . This session put the spotlight on sustainability in the gaming industry, an increasingly relevant topic as stakeholders examine ecological responsibility in production, merchandise, and travel. It was inspiring to see European studios and networks actively integrating sustainable practices into their strategies, reinforcing the sector’s role in driving responsible innovation.
Gamescom 2025 reaffirmed the importance of collaboration, innovation, and sustainability in the future of Europe’s gaming ecosystem. For EIT Culture & Creativity, it was an opportunity to connect with partners, explore new collaborations, and amplify our vision of empowering gaming across Europe.
We’re already looking forward to next year’s edition!
