Accelerator companies making global connections at Gamescom 2026

CDG-Booster participated in Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany, bringing together 26 companies from Finland, Sweden, and Estonia in the project’s Accelerator Programme. Together with Neogames, the Finnish game industry association, CDG-Booster co-organised the Nordic All Star Booth, giving participating companies an international platform to showcase their expertise, pitch their ideas, and build new business connections.

Gamescom is one of the world’s most significant meeting points for the games industry. The 2026 event attracted 368,000 visitors from 131 countries, including more than 36,000 trade visitors. Altogether, 1,743 companies from 66 countries exhibited at the event, demonstrating the increasingly international nature of the games and creative technology industries.

For SMEs and startups participating in CDG-Booster, international industry events such as Gamescom provide opportunities that are difficult to replicate through online networking alone. Companies can meet potential customers, publishers, investors, and strategic partners; receive direct feedback on their products and business ideas; increase their international visibility; and build networks in new markets. These connections are particularly important for growth-oriented creative digital companies seeking to internationalise their operations and identify new commercial opportunities.

The Nordic All Star Booth served as a shared meeting and networking point for participating companies throughout the event. One visitor was Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. The visit provided an opportunity to discuss the Nordic game development ecosystem, the industry’s future development, and the evolving European regulatory environment.

For CDG-Booster, participation in Gamescom supports the project’s wider objective of helping creative digital SMEs build business capabilities, strengthen international networks, and identify concrete pathways for growth. During the event, participating companies established new contacts and initiated discussions with potential partners and customers. These connections will continue to develop into longer-term business outcomes.

By giving companies access to major international industry networks and opportunities to present their expertise to a global audience, CDG-Booster continues to help participating SMEs take practical steps toward internationalisation and sustainable growth.