Fostering Innovation in the European Content Industry: Börsenvereinsgruppe to Receive Funding to Carry out EU Pilot Project

The Börsenvereinsgruppe has been awarded the task of implementing the pilot project called "Platform(s) for cultural content innovation" that the European Commission has launched.

How can the development of innovative products and business models be expanded and accelerated in the European creative industries? With a view to finding answers to this question, the European Commission has launched a pilot project called "Platform(s) for cultural content innovation". And now, the Börsenvereinsgruppe (German Publishers and Booksellers Association Group), the foremost representative of Germany’s book industry and the leading provider of expertise and services in the areas of advocacy, trade fairs, events, technology and training programmes, has been awarded the task of implementing the pilot project. Together with six partner organisations from the European media industry, the Börsenvereinsgruppe will develop measures to promote innovation within a one-and-a-half-year timeframe. The project is being funded by the European Commission with a total of 650,000 Euro. Among the key components of the project are an online platform, a European network of experts, an online and offline campaign and a "Content Innovation Inspirathon," the latter scheduled to be a key network event in the summer of 2020.

"We are delighted to have this opportunity to work together with committed partners on behalf of the European Commission and to seek out solutions designed to strengthen the European spirit of innovation," said Simone Lippold, Head of Innovation Development at the Börsenvereinsgruppe and leader of the working group responsible for implementing the pilot project: "We are also keen to boost the competitiveness of the European content industry and make a decisive contribution to future innovation-related policies for the creative industries. The German book and media industry brings a considerable amount of know-how and experience to the table, especially thanks to our many years of organising the Content Shift innovation initiative. We are also looking forward to gaining a wealth of practical tips and inspirations that can help drive forward the work of publishers, bookshops and other media companies. The pilot project is intended to encourage long-term approaches to the establishment of a cross-sector ecosystem of innovation in Europe, one that supports European creative pioneers in their efforts to assert their standing in the digital age."

The pilot project, which is scheduled to get underway in March 2020 and run for a total of 18 months, will focus on the following tasks:

• Setting up a sustainable online platform ("Content Innovation Platform") that showcases innovative approaches and consumer-oriented prototypes and that allows users to share data, know-how and experiences relating to innovation processes as well as methods and collaboration tools,
• setting up a network of experts drawn from established creative and tech industries as well as from research institutions and startups throughout Europe ("Community of Content Innovation Pioneers")
• Carrying out an online and offline campaign designed to promote innovation, including events such as the "Content Innovation Inspirathon",
• attracting potential investors and providing them with information on promising projects and
• presenting policy recommendations at the European, national and regional levels.

The partner organisations supporting the implementation of the pilot project are the Berlin-based investor network Media Deals, the Spanish production company Mediapro, the German-French games accelerator SpielFabrique and the Milan-based Music Innovation Hub (MIH). Our network partners are the Federation of European Publishers (FEP) and the European Music Council (EMC).

In 2020, parallel to the new EU pilot project, the Börsenvereinsgruppe’s "Content Shift" accelerator will also enter its latest round. Companies are encouraged to get involved as investors in this, the fifth instalment of the highly successful innovation programme. Each participating company receives a spot on the jury as well as direct and exclusive access to all of the startups involved. Promising young startups from all over the world are invited to apply starting 02.032020. For more information, please visit www.contentshift.de.

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About the Börsenvereinsgruppe

The Börsenvereinsgruppe (German Publishers and Booksellers Association Group) represents the interests of Germany’s book industry and provides practical and advisory services to book-related companies. The group consists of the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (German Publishers and Booksellers Association) and its business subsidiaries – Frankfurter Buchmesse, MVB, mediacampus Frankfurt and Holding Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels Beteiligungsgesellschaft. The Börsenvereinsgruppe oversees a number of services and educational programmes for the book industry and media sector, including the organisation of representational activities, cultural projects, trade fairs, training programmes and publishing and technology services.
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About MVB

Technology and information provider MVB makes books visible. Major platforms, based on international metatdata standards, enable publishers and bookstores to promote their products successfully and efficiently in their home markets and abroad. Editorial and advertising formats as well as face-to-face networking give orientation in different book markets. In close cooperation with customers and market players from all areas of the book industry, the teams located in Frankfurt am Main, Mexico City, New York and São Paulo continuously work on innovative Infrastructure solutions for the book trade of the future.
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Thomas Koch | Head of Public Relations Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels
Tel.: +49 69 1306-293
t.koch@boev.de

Markus Fertig | PR Manager MVB
Tel.: +49 69 1306-374 | Fax: +49 69 1306-17374
m.fertig@mvb-online.de