Croatia set to Significantly Boost Gaming Industry
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Loading... - Blair Hall
- 15 Aug 2024
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Croatia is set to significantly boost its gaming industry with a substantial investment of over 26 million EUR from the European Union's Just Transition Fund. This funding will be used to establish a Game Industry Center in the City of Novska, located within the Entrepreneurial Zone of the Sisak-Moslavina County. The agreement for the project was co-presented by representatives of the Croatian government, Sisak-Moslavina County, and the City of Novska.
The project, which is being spearheaded by the Regional Coordinator of Sisak-Moslavina County in collaboration with the county, the Development Agency SIMORA, and the City of Novska, is slated to begin construction in 2024. The completion and official opening of the Game Industry Center are anticipated in 2027.
The Game Industry Center will be a comprehensive facility designed to support the growth of Croatia's gaming industry. It will feature a faculty with a sports hall and swimming pool, a dormitory capable of housing 250 students, an accelerator with a VR studio, and an incubator equipped with a hall for testing video games, along with other supporting infrastructure. A standout feature of the center will be an e-sports arena, designed to resemble a grounded UFO, which will accommodate 2,500 spectators.
Educational programs will also be a key focus of the center. A five-year higher education program, admitting 50 students annually, and a high school program for 24 students will be offered on the future gaming campus. The first phase of the project will see the construction of essential infrastructure, including roads, sports fields, faculty buildings, a student dormitory, and a power plant.
Croatia's Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, highlighted the significance of this investment, noting that the City of Novska and Sisak-Moslavina County have established themselves as hubs for the Croatian gaming industry. The region has already introduced video game development courses in high schools, adapted a building in Novska into a student dormitory for aspiring game developers from across the country, and is in the process of establishing the Regional Competence Center of the Technical School Sisak. The Game Industry Center is expected to attract a total investment of around 100 million EUR over the coming years, further solidifying Novska’s position as a key player in the global gaming industry.
