Creative Transfer Games: Hamburg

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
The Creative Transfer program provides German independent game studios with subsidies covering up to 80% of travel expenses for industry conventions.
02
Eligible studios must be headquartered in Germany and maintain a staff of no more than 20 permanent employees.
03
Funding caps are set at 1,000 euros for domestic events and 2,000 euros for international gatherings.
04
Participating studios are limited to receiving funding for a maximum of three events within any six-month period.
05
A jury-led selection process evaluates applicants based on their demonstrated financial need and the potential for project promotion.
06
The initiative is designed to lower barriers to entry for small developers, aiming to increase their visibility and professional growth within the global gaming market.

Summary

Gamecity Hamburg announced on February 19, 2020 that applications were open for the Creative Transfer funding program, aimed at helping small German game developers present their studios, games, and projects at national and international conventions and conferences. The call set a deadline of March 17, 2020, and framed the program as a way to build industry contacts through event attendance.

The program subsidizes travel expenses for events held between July 1 and December 31, 2020. Up to 80 percent of costs can be covered, capped at 1,000 euros for events within Germany and 2,000 euros for international events. Each team may request support for a maximum of three events, and a jury decides who receives funding.

Eligibility is restricted to developers and teams headquartered in Germany with no more than 20 permanent employees. Applicants must operate independently of large companies and be unable to finance event attendance from their own resources. Application forms and further details were hosted on the Creative Transfer website.

The page also carries a sidebar of more recent Gamecity Hamburg news, which shows the organization's broader support ecosystem as of 2026. Items include the Games Lift 2026 incubator, offering five teams 15,000 euros each plus workshops, mentoring, and a 1,000 euro coaching budget, with applications from April 27 to June 1. Other listings cover Prototype Funding 2026, the Road to gamescom joint booth program, the Games Germany Steam Sale, Portside Game Assembly on June 25–26, 2026, and the Pitch Level Up event, which drew over 80 participants. Hamburg-made releases such as MENACE, The Amusement, and Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown are also highlighted.