Bavaria’s Future in Publishing at the Frankfurt Book Fair

Four innovative projects from Bavaria:

PanelWave

The Munich-based startup PanelWave aims to turn graphic novels into an online experience: As an open-core system for digital graphic novels and webcomics, PanelWave replaces the rigid print layout with interactive, multimedia storytelling. Through its CMS, the platform allows users to incorporate animations, sound effects, branching paths based on readers’ choices, and multilingual text. The open-source format and an open-source player ensure maximum flexibility when publishing.

mybreev

mybreev is a digital learning publisher for corporate training that specializes in transforming specialized content from publishers into scalable B2B learning modules. Using AI, gamification, and proprietary production technology, traditional articles, books, and seminar materials are transformed into interactive, multilingual e-learning courses. Companies can use this content for employee training, enabling publishers to generate new, recurring B2B revenue without any investment risk of their own.

Extended Books

Munich-based Sophie Verlag presents Extended Books as a digital extension for printed books that provides children and teachers with supplementary online content—such as videos, workbooks, experiment guides, and quizzes—without requiring registration. The publisher continuously updates the digital hub based on requests for materials from educators, ensuring that the supplementary content dynamically evolves to meet users’ needs.

TrekKI

TrekKI is based on a feasibility study conducted by the AI Competence Center for Media (KI.M) in collaboration with Rother Wanderverlag and Müller Reiseverlag. The result is an AI assistant that combines protected publisher data with intelligent travel planning and “interleaved thinking” to offer users a well-thought-out planning experience. The entire process runs entirely on-premises, allowing publishers to leverage their editorial expertise digitally without relinquishing control over their data to external third-party providers.

Bavaria’s Best Independent Books

XPLR: MEDIA in Bavaria is once again showcasing Bavaria’s best independent books at its booth at the Frankfurt Book Fair. For the seventh time, the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts is presenting this award to ten independent publishers. The award recognizes their commitment to a diverse publishing landscape and a vibrant cultural discourse.

Bavarian Book Prize

Every year, the Bavarian Book Prize honors outstanding German-language publications in the categories of fiction and nonfiction. The nominees have already been selected, and the winning title will be announced at the end of October. An overview of all nominated works and further information about the book prize will be available at the Frankfurt Book Fair at the XPLR: MEDIA in Bavaria booth.

Our booth lineup:

Wednesday, October 7:

• 3:00 – 3:30 p.m.: Booth reception featuring an introduction to our booth partners.

Thursday, October 8:

• 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: “Book First, Not Alone”: Sophie Verlag’s Vision for the Multimedia Children’s Book. A discussion about the book as a guide for children in the multimedia world.

• 2:00 – 2:30 p.m.: “A Change of Scenery: Bucharest. A City Diary” – Publisher Johannes Rieder (Susanna Rieder Verlag) presents the book in conversation with Arinda Crăciun.
• 2:30 – 3:00 p.m.: “Everything Should Be Very White” – Author Ute Wegmann in conversation with her publisher, Sarah Käsmayr.
• 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.: “Future Skills /Future Jobs: The Future of the Book Industry” – A panel discussion on the skills and roles that will truly shape the book world of tomorrow.

Friday, October 9:

• 1:00 – 1:30 p.m.: The PanelWave JSON Format for Next-Generation Dynamic Graphic Novels – Jens Hoppe presents the new EPUB format for interactive graphic novels with a live demo, followed by a Q&A session.
• 2:00–2:30 p.m.: “Heute bin ich ein Horizont / Hoje sou um horizonte” – Editor Leonardo Tonus and publisher Martin Pflanzer present the illustrated Brazilian poetry anthology.
• 2:30 – 3:00 p.m.: “Turn It Into Art!” – In this discussion, editor Lena Frenzel talks about aesthetic education.
• 4:00 – 4:30 p.m.: With Speed, Wit, and an Octopus in Her Belly: How “100 Days at Home” Turns Fear of School into an Adventure – A discussion and Q&A with author Matilda Gyllenberg about her award-winning children’s novel.