City Case Description: Košice & Gaming Industry

How does “prototyping” work?

This City Case Description is the outcome of a policy prototyping exercise within a city ecosystem.
Once the ekip research team has explored a policy area and its connection to cultural and creative
industries (CCIs) and innovation, we ask: what would this mean in a local city context?

Together with local stakeholders, we test how a draft policy recommendation might stimulate innovation. Using Portfolio Sensemaking, stakeholders simulate an innovation portfolio, analyse the strengths and gaps of the local support system, and identify what resources are needed to realise the portfolio.

Košice Context & Area of Focus

Innovation in Košice’s gaming sector is largely understood as a bottom-up process, driven by developers themselves rather than by institutional or policy structures. However, the sector faces a range of interconnected challenges that hinder its growth and visibility.

At its core, the system remains underdeveloped — a sign of significant untapped potential that has yet to be fully realised. One of the most pressing issues is talent drain: skilled professionals often leave the region in search of better opportunities elsewhere.

At the same time, there is a wealth of hidden talent within Košice that remains under utilised, which can weaken motivation among younger generations and risk long-term stagnation if not addressed.

Developers also encounter systemic barriers in the form of bureaucracy and inadequate state policies related to establishing firms and obtaining legal or financial support. The sector’s lack of visibility further compounds the problem, limiting its capacity to advocate for itself, build networks, and access decision-makers.

Moreover, the developer community in Košice is highly decentralised, which makes coordinated action and collective innovation more difficult. This fragmentation is accompanied by limited access to opportunities, resources, and funding — all of which are essential for nurturing creativity and growth. Without strategic intervention, these factors may lead to ongoing stagnation, continued loss of talent, and an overall slowdown in development processes across the sector.