Pro Helvetia Game Design Emerging Talents preproduction grant: 1 March 2027 deadline
Pro Helvetia gives young Swiss game designers up to CHF 20,000 to develop a game prototype. Applications open 1 January and close 1 March 2027.
The Pro Helvetia Game Design Emerging Talents preproduction grant pays for the development of a game prototype. The Swiss national culture foundation runs two rounds a year, and the next one closes on 1 March 2027.
The grant is up to CHF 20,000. Pro Helvetia can also add individual coaching, and it sets up a milestone plan with every funded project.
Emerging Talents are professional game designers whose game design education or company founding is less than 7 years old. At least half of the team must be Swiss citizens or permanent residents who work in Switzerland. The studio keeps the copyright and rights of use.
The application needs a playable prototype, a trailer of up to two minutes, a project description of up to 20 pages with a market analysis and a plan for development and sales, proof of Emerging Talent status, and a detailed budget. Documents should be in English. Apply through the Pro Helvetia online portal, which accepts applications for this round from 1 January.
Decisions for the March round come in June, and funded projects can start from 1 July. A jury looks at originality, feasibility, innovation and market potential. Commissioned work, advertising projects and gallery projects are excluded.
Quick answers
Can I build on a game I already made?
Yes. Further work on your own projects that already exist is allowed.
How many projects can I send?
Only one project per category from the same applicant.
Which kinds of games qualify?
Games for computers, consoles, mobile devices or mixed reality with a high level of interaction. Purely technical projects with no narrative or visual content do not qualify.