Innovation meets publishing: New offers and programme tips for the publishing community in Hall 4.0 at #fbm25

For most people in the international publishing community, October can only mean one thing: Frankfurter Buchmesse. In the run-up to #fbm25, the KnowledgeWorks Global team spoke with Luisa Wagner, Marketing Manager at Frankfurter Buchmesse, who is responsible for programming the Innovation Stage (Hall 4.0, H106) at the fair. In the interview, Luisa talks about what visitors can expect around the stage, which topics will be in focus, and reveals her personal highlights of this year's programme.

The interview originally appeared on the KnowledgeWorks Global blog in English. The original interview with additional tips from the KnowledgeWorks Global editorial team can be found here(opens in a new window).

KGL: What is new on the Innovation Stage at Buchmesse 2025?

LW: This year, we have an even more extensive programme for academic publishers and anyone interested in innovations in publishing on the Innovation Stage in Hall 4.0 (stand number: H106), from Wednesday to Friday.

The programme runs from 9 am to 6 pm CEST each day and includes lectures and panel discussions with key players, hidden champions and regional experts from the field of academic publishing and publishing services.

From Wednesday to Friday, we’ll offer a free lunch from 12 pm noon to 1 pm in the Meeting Area (Hall 4.0 H93) next to the Innovation Stage. This complimentary lunch offer for trade visitors and exhibitors from Hall 4.0 is intended to provide additional opportunities for new encounters and inspiring conversations.

New are also the Friday Innovation Talks powered by Frankfurter Buchmesse, Bookwire & Pondus, which will take place after the Charleston micro-conference: The talks will focus on innovations in publishing and will conclude with a networking reception from 2.30 to 5 pm.

KGL: What would you say are the main themes in academic publishing being explored on the stage this year?

LW: As in 2024, many panel discussions will focus on the latest developments in Open Access and AI. In light of changing policy requirements, shrinking research budgets and growing concerns about the integrity and trustworthiness of research, this year’s programme will also shed light on the state of academic freedom.

KGL: Which events are you personally most excited about/looking forward to?

LW: My impression is that this year’s programme has improved significantly in terms of quantity and quality, making it difficult to choose. The micro-conference “The Scholarly Kitchen: Navigating the Next Wave: Scholarly Publishing’s Uncertain Future” by the Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) on Thursday morning is a must-attend event—and it starts with a networking breakfast at 8.50 am!

In addition to the micro-conference by Charleston Hub on Friday morning (9-11 am), I am especially excited about the panel discussion “Science in Exile & Anonymous Publishing—Protecting Vulnerable Researchers” (Wednesday, 3-4 pm). This panel, brought to you by Berlin Institute for Scholarly Publishing (BISP), who organise the Academic Publishing Europe (APE), will address the situation of scholars in exile or under repression, focusing on emergency access, local publishing initiatives, and new approaches to anonymous publishing.

KGL: Building a 5-day multilingual programme, that is fresh and topical and features talented speakers must be an incredibly challenging job—what were the main things you were looking for this year when you put together the programme?

LW: From Wednesday to Friday, we aim to offer an international perspective on the status and future of academic publishing and on innovations in publishing, with a diverse range of voices from the publishing industry.

Our goal is to create a place where the international community can come together, discuss and find new solutions to the challenges many publishers are currently facing.

On Saturday and Sunday, the focus of our programme will shift, with panel discussions, academic lectures and interviews with scientists and authors of popular science titles, we want to bring science to the attention of the public.

KGL: Thank you so much for your time!

Further information about the programme in Hall 4.0 and beyond:

Further information, innovations and programme highlights can be found in our press release(opens in a new window).

The complete Innovation Stage programme from 15 to 19 October can be found in the calendar of events at Frankfurt Connect(opens in a new window).