On March 24, 2026, the European Commission hosted the RTD Library Talk “Games for Good”, a deep dive into how research and innovation in the gaming sector are driving positive societal change. A highlight of the session was the presentation by Tânia Moreira, INOVA+, who shared transformative insights from the GAME-ER project.
While major cities often dominate the tech narrative, the video game industry is far more geographically distributed than previously assumed. Iconic games like Grand Theft Auto (Dundee), Microsoft Flight Simulator (Bordeaux), and Mafia (Brno) were all developed in regions outside of national capitals.
The GAME-ER project is dedicated to researching how these local and regional clusters emerge and sustain themselves. By conducting over 180 interviews and analyzing 642 documents across six case studies, the project aims to equip policymakers with the tools to strengthen creative ecosystems in remote areas.
One of the project’s most significant breakthroughs is addressing the “invisibility” of the sector. Currently, there is no dedicated NACE code for game development, causing the industry to be scattered across more than 30 statistical classifications.
Through a data-driven strategy, GAME-ER has created a geo-referenced inventory of over 4,000 European video game companies, identifying 62 NUTS2 regions with a high specialization in gaming.
Moreira highlighted several critical factors that allow these clusters to thrive outside traditional tech hubs:
Local Leadership: Specific individuals or “anchor actors” (like DMA Design in Dundee or the local mayor in Fundão) often catalyze the formation of the entire ecosystem.
Education Linkages: Universities with specialized gaming curricula serve as talent pipelines and incubators.
Strategic Reinvention: Many successful clusters emerged in regions that faced economic decline in traditional industries, such as shipbuilding in Dundee or automotive manufacturing in Turin.
Territorial Identity: A strong sense of place and high quality of life help these regions attract and retain top talent.
The ultimate goal of GAME-ER is to put research into action. The project is developing the Game Clusters Toolkit (gameclusters.eu), a digital platform designed to provide policymakers with:
Interactive Visualizations: Clear data on research results and cluster specializations.
Policy Recommendations: Pilot-tested strategies for startup acceleration and cluster growth.
A Transferable Framework: A typology that helps any region identify its current standing and the specific policies needed to advance.
The creative economies are proving that they can generate employment, attract talent, and reverse demographic decline, contributing to a more cohesive and innovative Europe.
