HNU Brings Together Game Studies in a New Game Institute

01.10.2026, Press Release :

What role do games play in education, society, and the economy, and how can this knowledge be applied scientifically? These questions are at the heart of the new Game Institute at Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences (HNU), which, with its establishment, is creating a central platform for the further development of game sciences in Bavaria. In line with Bavaria’s Game Strategy, the Game Institute aims to help better align scientific expertise with the needs and developments of the games industry.

Games have long been more than just a form of entertainment: They are the subject of scientific research, are used in education and outreach, and are part of a growing cultural and creative industry. With the HNU Game Institute, HNU is now creating a platform to bring together academia, politics, education, and the gaming industry, and to establish structures for research, teaching, and knowledge transfer.“ With the Game Institute, we are raising the profile of HNU while also underscoring our commitment to playing an active role in shaping socially and economically relevant developments through research, thereby generating an impact that extends beyond the university,” emphasizes HNU President Prof. Dr. Julia Kormann.

Contribution to the Bavarian Game Strategy

The new institution sees itself as an active component of the Bavarian Game Strategy. The initiators, Prof. Michael Hebel and Prof. Guido Kühn, have been active for years in game studies—particularly in the fields of game pedagogy and game development—and work closely with stakeholders from politics, academia, and the professional field.

Dr. Fabian Mehring, Bavaria’s Minister of State for Digital Affairs: “Games are a cultural asset, a driver of digitalization, and a growth industry all at once. We have made Bavaria Germany’s number one hub for games, and we want to turn this lead into a lasting competitive advantage. To that end, I have doubled the funding available for games so that we can give our pixel pioneers twice the momentum. As part of this effort, we are focusing above all on professionalizing and academicizing the industry in order to catch up with the international leaders. The new Game Institute at Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences is an important milestone on this path. After all, a strong games hub needs not only creative studios, but also excellent research, bright minds, and close collaboration between academia and industry. “Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences is now leading the way statewide and doing important pioneering work in a field that is truly the future. I am very grateful to the initiators for this exemplary commitment and assure them of my continued, reliable support.”

Among other things, the plan calls for a research cluster that will highlight existing teaching and research activities, initiate joint research projects, and facilitate collaboration among universities. The development of doctoral tracks in game studies is also one of the long-term goals.

A systematic survey of game studies in Bavaria is intended to lay an important foundation for this: The HNU Games Institute plans to collect data on degree programs, program profiles, facilities, student enrollment, research activities, and transitions into the games industry. This will provide, for the first time, a more comprehensive overview of the academic landscape in this field in Bavaria.

Research with Direct Practical Applications

In addition to research, knowledge transfer plays a central role. The HNU Game Institute aims to put scientific findings into practice in collaboration with partners from the fields of politics, business, culture, and education. This includes, among other things, lectures and training sessions, teaching projects with external partners, game jams, summer schools, and exhibitions of student work.

HNU’s existing activities are to be more closely integrated and opened up to cross-university collaborations. These include, among other things, the “Game Kickstart” semester exhibition, cross-university game jams, and the KANU Game network, which connects Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences, Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, and Kempten University of Applied Sciences.

Cooperation with the games industry is also to be further expanded. Teaching and research projects may lead to the development of prototypes, games, and other applications. At the same time, the HNU Game Institute is to support startup activities within the HNU and the KANU network.

Long-Term Goal: A Strong Bavarian Gaming Ecosystem

“Anyone who wants to understand the digital society cannot ignore a cultural practice as old as humanity itself: play. Games are at once a space for learning, a cultural asset, an economic sector, and a laboratory for innovation. With the HNU Game Institute, we are creating—for the first time in Bavaria—a platform that highlights and connects the various activities within game sciences,” emphasizes Prof. Guido Kühn. “We don't just want to conduct research; we want to ensure that its results have a tangible impact on education, the economy, and society. Our goal is a strong Bavarian gaming ecosystem that promotes both academic excellence and practical application in equal measure.”

In the long term, the HNU Game Institute aims to help further develop academic structures for game studies in Bavaria—from degree programs and teaching to research and doctoral studies, as well as knowledge transfer, startup initiatives, and collaboration with the gaming industry. In this way, the Game Institute lays the groundwork for a more closely connected Bavarian gaming ecosystem.

Go to the institute's website