Partners WAN-Ifra and børding Holding are rebranding the Ifra and DCX industry events into what will be known as 'Berlin Publishing Days' from October 7-10 this year.

The combined October exhibition has been reformatted as a one-day opening conference, a "highly-concentrated" two-day exhibition, an evening event and visits to publishers and start-ups in the city.

In a statement today, Stefanie Hornung and WAN-Ifra deputy chief executive Manfred Werfel of the Publishing Exhibition joint venture, say the exhibition continues to be a focal point in the publishing industry, "and will remain so provided it repeatedly absorbs innovative impulses".

"Orientation in the hype cycle of emerging trends, cooperation among media producers in times of fake news, networking with like-minded colleagues and a distinctive experiential quality - that is what visitors expect of top-events in the publishing industry," it says.

After two years of the combined exhibition event for print and digital publishing, the "next step" will present what is being described as an expanded concept: "Attendees will experience a one-day opening conference, a highly-concentrated exhibition offering on two days as well as practice-oriented visits to publishers and start-ups in Berlin. The decision-makers in the publishing industry will be able to select which events they wish to combine and thus compile an agenda tailored to suit their specific needs."

Publishing Exhibition chief executive Alexander Petsch says the organiser received "a clear signal" from visitors and exhibitors in favour of an "eventful, interactive format".

"Young companies and start-ups especially expect an exhibition marketplace to enable them without loss of time to quickly generate new contacts. At the same time, the international visitors value the discussions with other media producers and genuine insights into their operations."

A four-day Berlin Publishing Days event will start with the World Printers Forum conference - hosted by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung at its city-centre building - moving for the second and third days to stages in the Berlin Messe with "a strong focus on providers".

The former networking night becomes the 'Berlin Publishing Night' with presentation of WAN-Ifra's Print Innovation Awards.

On the fourth day (October 10), visitors will be invited to take part in study tours of the publishing and start-up city.

"The Berlin Publishing Days with the Ifra and DCX exhibitions form an overall event at which the visitors can experience at first hand what publishing means today," says Petsch.

For more details, see www.ifra-dcx.com.

Pictured: Flags outside the Berlin Messe in 2018