The new face of publishing innovation: global, diverse, and AI-native

International digital publishing award announces 12 finalists ahead of Frankfurt Book Fair

Quality and diversity define this year's submissions for the Digital Publishing Award, which is being presented internationally for the first time. This week, the jury selected 12 finalists from approximately 80 entries representing 16 countries—including major Western book markets as well as Mexico, Kenya, Tunisia, Brazil, and India. Winners will be announced at the Frankfurt Book Fair on October 15 at 3 p.m. on the International Stage (between Halls 5 and 6).

Following their deliberations, the jury praised the consistently high quality of submissions, which included noteworthy discoveries even for experienced members. As in previous years, audio, Edtech and AI emerged as primary themes. Notably, AI applications are now integrated as core features within products and services rather than appearing as standalone tools.

Given the high quality of the submissions, simply being shortlisted is a major success for the 12 companies – and an appeal to continue their excellent contribution to innovation in the publishing industry in the future.

The award is sponsored by Bookwire, Beat Technology, and Zebralution Digital Publishing, with support from Frankfurter Buchmesse, EDRLab, and Publishers Without Borders. It is presented by digital publishing report and Publishing Perspectives.

The shortlist

PRODUCT / BUSINESS MODEL (powered by Bookwire)

Cornelsen Verlag: KI-Tutor Kim, by Duden Learnattack

eKitabu: Digital Story Time

Storytel: Voice Switcher

Westermann Verlag: BiBox

PROCESS / TECHNOLOGY

Bookshop.org: Ebook Plattform

Circular Software: No-Code Accessibility for Fixed-Layout EPUB

Miutbooks: EARS

Studio 47: HyperMedia AI Newsroom

START-UP (powered by Beat Technology)

Biddz: goaudio.ai

Editrix Solutions: Editrix

Lit X: dto

Shimmr AI: dto

Learn more about the nominees

DIGITAL LEADER(SHIP) (powered by Zebralution Digital Publishing)

No shortlist will be published for the Digital Leader(ship) category

Participating companies

The following companies participated in 2025, some with multiple submissions: a&f systems AG, Ailaysa Technologies, ArchiTangle, Audiskills, biddz, Bookalope, BOOKR, Bookshop, Burda, BVK Buchverlag Kempen, Carl Hanser Verlag, Circular Software, Cornelsen, data2type, Editrix Solutions, Editorial Audiolibre, eKitabu, Ernst Klett Sprachen, Ernst Klett Verlag, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Fênix Editorial, glomex, Holzmann Medien, HRH, Jellybooks, Kollo Media, Lit X, Miutbooks, Morbiket, Narrakids/Narratix, NPG, Penguin Random House Audio, Retresco, Shimmr AI, Snackz.ai, Storyside Ab, Storytel, Studio 47, Supadu, Textshine Kinesis Publishing, Verlagsgruppe Oetinger, VNR, Westermann Bildungsmedien Verlag, Wirbelwild, Wolters Kluwer, Wuselfabrik

The jury of 2025

The jury for the digital publishing award includes the following digital experts:

• Eric Bartoletti (Bookwire)

• Olaf Deconinck (Publisher Consultants)

• Talita Facchini

• Emma House (Publishers Without Borders)

• Nathan Hull (Beat Technology)

• Mona Klinkhardt (Ernst Klett Verlag)

• Christian Kohl (Kohl Consulting)

• Anna Lemp (Hachette France)

• Marie-Laurence de Rocher (EDRLab)

Disclaimer: When evaluating individual submissions, jury members abstained if they were or are affiliated in any way with the submitting company.