Game Design Emerging Talents: Post-Production Program (Switzerland)

The Pro Helvetia Game Design Emerging Talents: Post-Production Program provides up to CHF 20,000 to support emerging professional game designers in Switzerland with the post-production, marketing, dissemination, or platform expansion of completed digital game projects. The program also offers individual coaching and supports innovative, market-ready games with strong commercial and creative potential.

Pro Helvetia Game Design Emerging Talents: Post-Production Program 2026

The Pro Helvetia Game Design Emerging Talents: Post-Production Program is a funding initiative that helps emerging game developers strengthen the visibility, reach, and long-term success of their completed digital games.

Rather than funding early game development, this program focuses on the post-production stage, enabling developers to expand their audience through marketing activities, adapt games for additional platforms, and improve the commercial potential of finished projects.

The initiative supports Switzerland’s growing digital games industry by investing in innovative creators and helping promising games reach broader national and international markets.

Program Overview

Program Name: Game Design Emerging Talents: Post-Production Program

Funding Organization: Pro Helvetia

Program Type: Post-Production Grant for Digital Games

Maximum Funding: Up to CHF 20,000

Additional Support: Individual coaching (where applicable)

Target Applicants: Emerging professional game designers

Project Focus: Marketing, dissemination, and platform expansion of completed digital games

Program Objectives

The program aims to:

• Support the dissemination of completed digital games.
• Improve the visibility and market reach of innovative games.
• Help developers expand games to additional platforms.
• Strengthen the professional development of emerging game designers.
• Increase the commercial potential of Swiss digital games.
• Encourage innovation in interactive digital media.
• Support sustainable growth within the Swiss game development sector.

What Is the Post-Production Program?

The Post-Production Program supports projects that have already been substantially completed and are ready for broader distribution or further refinement.

Instead of financing core game development, funding may be used for activities that help bring an existing game to new audiences, including marketing campaigns, promotional activities, localization, and adaptation to additional gaming platforms.

The program also provides opportunities for individual coaching to strengthen business and project development.

Why This Program Matters

Creating a successful game requires more than completing development. Marketing, platform expansion, audience engagement, and commercialization are essential for reaching players and generating long-term success.

Many independent developers lack sufficient resources for these post-production activities. This program helps bridge that gap by supporting developers during one of the most critical stages of a game’s lifecycle.

It also strengthens Switzerland’s creative industries by encouraging innovative, high-quality digital games with international potential.

Funding Available

Successful applicants may receive:

• Up to CHF 20,000 in financial support.

In addition, applicants may receive:

• Individual coaching tailored to their project and professional development needs.

What Can the Funding Support?

Funding may be used for activities such as:

Marketing and Promotion

Examples include:

• Marketing campaigns
• Digital advertising
• Public relations
• Social media promotion
• Community building
• Promotional materials

Dissemination

Support for:

• Game launches
• Distribution activities
• Audience outreach
• International promotion
• Festival participation
• Publisher engagement

Platform Expansion

Projects involving:

• Porting games to additional platforms
• Console adaptation
• Mobile adaptation
• Mixed reality deployment
• Cross-platform optimization

Project Refinement

Where appropriate, applicants may further develop completed projects to improve their quality, accessibility, or market readiness.

Eligible Project Types

Projects must involve digital games requiring significant player interaction.

Eligible platforms include:

• Computers (PC and Mac)
• Game consoles
• Mobile devices
• Mixed reality (MR)

Games should be interactive experiences where player engagement significantly influences gameplay or content.

Who Is Eligible?

Applicants must be:

• Emerging professional game designers.
• Developers creating their own original projects.
• Connected to Switzerland.
• Working on completed or advanced digital game projects.

Applicants should demonstrate both creative quality and commercial potential.

Emerging Talent Requirements

Applicants qualify as emerging talents if:

• Their game design-related education was completed less than seven years ago, or
• Their game development company was established as a legal entity within the last seven years.

Legal Entity Requirements

Applications must generally be submitted by a legal entity, including:

• Limited companies (Ltd.)
• Public limited companies (PLC)
• Other eligible legal entities

Sole proprietorships may also apply if:

• The applicant completed their relevant education within the past seven years, and
• They are willing to convert their business into a legal entity if required.

Swiss Connection Requirements

Projects must demonstrate:

• A clear connection to Switzerland.
• Nationwide relevance.
• Significant participation by Swiss professionals.

At least:

• 50% of project participants must be Swiss citizens or permanent residents whose primary place of work is in Switzerland.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

Projects must also:

• Be complete applications submitted before the deadline.
• Have secured appropriate co-funding from public or private sources.
• Respect fair working conditions.
• Hold all necessary copyright and usage rights.

The project sponsor must own the intellectual property rights associated with the submitted project.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are assessed based on:

Originality

Projects should demonstrate:

• Creative concepts
• Unique gameplay
• Distinct artistic vision

Innovation

Reviewers evaluate:

• Innovative mechanics
• Creative interaction
• Technological advancement
• Original design approaches

Feasibility

Projects should present:

• Realistic implementation plans
• Achievable objectives
• Appropriate budgeting
• Practical timelines

Marketability

Applications should demonstrate:

• Commercial potential
• Audience demand
• Distribution strategy
• Marketing readiness

Expected Outcomes

Supported projects should:

• Reach wider audiences.
• Increase commercial success.
• Expand to additional gaming platforms.
• Strengthen international visibility.
• Promote Swiss game development.
• Improve long-term sustainability for emerging studios.

How the Program Works

Applicants submit completed or advanced digital game projects seeking support for post-production activities such as marketing, dissemination, or platform expansion.

Selected developers receive financial assistance and, where appropriate, individual coaching to improve the commercial performance and visibility of their games while strengthening their professional development within the Swiss game industry.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should follow these steps:

1. Confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements for emerging talents.
2. Ensure your project is an advanced or completed digital game.
3. Verify that your project has a clear connection to Switzerland.
4. Secure any required public or private co-funding.
5. Confirm that your organization holds all copyright and usage rights.
6. Prepare a project description outlining your marketing or platform expansion strategy.
7. Develop a realistic project budget and implementation plan.
8. Complete the Pro Helvetia application form.
9. Submit a complete application before the published deadline.

Tips for a Strong Application

To improve your chances of success:

• Clearly explain the innovation behind your game.
• Demonstrate strong market potential.
• Present a realistic dissemination strategy.
• Show how funding will increase the project’s impact.
• Highlight previous achievements or recognition.
• Explain your platform expansion plans where applicable.
• Provide evidence of secured co-funding.
• Ensure your application is complete and professionally prepared.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common application errors:

• Applying with unfinished or early-stage concepts.
• Failing to demonstrate a Swiss connection.
• Submitting incomplete documentation.
• Not securing required co-funding.
• Providing unclear marketing strategies.
• Failing to demonstrate ownership of intellectual property rights.
• Ignoring legal entity requirements.
• Missing the application deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Pro Helvetia Game Design Emerging Talents: Post-Production Program?

It is a funding program that supports emerging professional game designers with the post-production, marketing, dissemination, and platform expansion of completed digital game projects.

How much funding is available?

Applicants may receive up to CHF 20,000, with the possibility of additional individual coaching.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants are emerging professional game designers connected to Switzerland whose relevant education or company formation dates back less than seven years.

What types of games are eligible?

The program supports interactive digital games for computers, game consoles, mobile devices, and mixed reality platforms that require significant player interaction.

Can sole proprietorships apply?

Yes. Sole proprietorships may apply if the applicant completed their relevant education within the last seven years and is willing to convert the business into a legal entity if required.

How are applications evaluated?

Projects are assessed based on originality, innovation, feasibility, marketability, Swiss relevance, co-funding, fair working conditions, and compliance with all eligibility requirements.

What are the Swiss participation requirements?

At least 50% of the project participants must be Swiss citizens or permanent residents whose primary workplace is located in Switzerland.

Conclusion

The Pro Helvetia Game Design Emerging Talents: Post-Production Program 2026 offers emerging game developers an outstanding opportunity to strengthen the commercial success and visibility of their completed digital games. With up to CHF 20,000 in funding, personalized coaching, and support for marketing and platform expansion, the program helps innovative Swiss-connected game creators bring their projects to wider audiences. Emerging studios and professional game designers with original, interactive, and market-ready digital games are encouraged to apply and take the next step in building successful careers in the global games industry.