Shaping the Future with Books 2026



 

In partnership with

Sponsors:

 

Key details:

  • Date: Thursday, February 19th
  • Location: Brussels, Belgium
  • Register here

Shaping the Future with Books conference

Intergraf, in partnership with Smithers, is delighted to announce the next edition in the Shaping the Future series: Shaping the Future with Books, taking place in Brussels on Thursday, 19 February 2026. This flagship event will gather leading publishers, printers, suppliers, researchers, and policymakers to explore the trends, challenges, and innovations shaping Europe’s book ecosystem.

The European book sector is undergoing a profound transformation, from evolving reading habits and the evolution of print-on-demand services to new sustainability frameworks and supply-chain pressures. This conference will bring together high-level experts to discuss the latest developments across the value chain, including:

  • The state of the European book market
  • Changing consumer behaviour and reading habits
  • The strategic importance of print in a digital age
  • EU policies affecting books, education, and cultural access
  • Sustainable book production
  • New distribution, supply-chain, and localisation models
  • Innovation in book design and engagement

The upcoming event’s programme includes insights from Smithers, leading academics, online book influencers, major European publishers and printers, and the European Commission. Participants will benefit from a rich mix of market data, practical case studies, and forward-looking discussions.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

The full-day event will feature a series of insightful presentations and discussions. It will be preceded by a welcome cocktail on Wednesday, 18 February, and followed by a networking dinner on Thursday, 19 February.

EXCLUSIVE MARKET REPORT

Shaping the Future with Packaging attendees will also receive the European Book Market Report, prepared by Smithers. This exclusive report will present a comprehensive market analysis, including the latest data and trends impacting the books segment of the printing industry. It is included in the conference package and will serve as a valuable resource for professionals across the sector.

ACCOMODATION

Intergraf has secured a block of rooms at the Cardo Brussels hotel, where the event will take place, available at a special rate for the event participants. Please note the following cut-off dates for the release of any unsold rooms:

  • 18 December 2025 (60 days before arrival): 50% of the blocked rooms will be released.
  • 18 January 2026 (30 days before arrival): All remaining blocked rooms will be released.

We strongly encourage early booking to ensure availability and benefit from the preferential rate. Participants can reserve their accommodation at the Intergraf special rate by clicking here.

ABOUT THE EVENT SERIES

The Shaping the Future series, organised by Intergraf in collaboration with Smithers, highlights key sub-sectors of the European print industry. Previous conferences have focused on topics like books, commercial print, magazines, and direct mail. In 2026, the focus returns to books — a sector undergoing structural transformation and renewed political relevance. Building on the success of the Shaping the Future with Packaging event in 2025, which brought together 110 participants from more than 20 countries, this edition promises to continue advancing industry knowledge and collaboration. 

FEES

  • Intergraf Member Association Director/Board Member/employee - 0 EUR for up to 2 delegates
  • Intergraf Associate Members - 0 EUR for up to 2 delegates
  • Sponsor company employee or customer - 0 EUR
  • Speaker – 0 EUR
  • Journalist - 0 EUR
  • Printing company belonging to Intergraf member association - 190 EUR + VAT
  • Publishing Company - 190 EUR + VAT
  • Non-member company - 495 EUR + VAT
  • Sponsorship - Would you like to sponsor this event? Have a look at the sponsorship packages and get in touch with Sergejs Mikaeljans at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Programme
 

Wednesday, 18 February

19:30 - Welcome Cocktail at Cardo Brussels Hotel

The conference will open with a welcome cocktail, offering participants an informal opportunity to meet fellow attendees, speakers, and organisers ahead of the main conference day. This networking moment provides a relaxed setting to exchange first impressions, reconnect with colleagues, and set the tone for the discussions to come.


Thursday, 19 February

09:00 - 09:15 - Conference opening

Speakers: Ulrich Stetter, Intergraf

09:15 - 09:45 - What does the future for publishers look like?

Speakers: Sonia Draga, FEP, Belgium

09:45 - 10:15 - The European Mission for Reading and Literacy

Speaker: Normunds Popens, Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC), European Commission, Belgium

10:15 - 10:45 - Update on the European Book Market

Speaker: Adam Page, Smithers, United Kingdom

10:45 - 11:15 - Coffee break

11:15 - 11:45 - How Students Read: Reading in Higher Education in a Digital Age

Speaker: Marte Pupe Støyva, University of Stavanger, Norway

11:45 - 12:15 - The value of reading and writing on paper

Speaker: Andrea Cangini, Osservatorio Carta, Penna & Digitale, Italy

12:15 - 12:45 - Booktok

Speaker: Jasmine Darban, Sweden

12:45 - 14:00 - Lunch

14:00 - 15:00 - Panel Discussion: Value chain cooperation to enhance supply chain resilience and new supply chain models

Moderator: Havard Grjotheim, Scandbook, Sweden

Speakers: Matt Baehr, Book Manufacturer’s Institute, USA

Oliver Kranert, C.H. Beck, Germany
Peter Kraus vom Cleff, Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, Germany
Antti Makkonen, Sappi, Finland

15:00 - 15:30 - Sustainable book production

Speaker: Gina Lyons, Clays, United Kingdom

15:30 - 15:50 - Coffee break

15:50 - 16:15 - Booxite

Speaker: Hermann Eckel, pagina GmbH, Germany

16:15 - 16:40 - Localised and Regional Printing Models

Speaker: Alison Kaye, CPI, United Kingdom

16:40-17:05 - The digital product passport for books

Speaker: Tobias Kaase, mediaprint solutions, Germany

17:05-17:15 - Conference closing

Speakers: Ulrich Stetter, Intergraf

 

19:00 - Conference Dinner at Belga Queen

The conference dinner will take place on the evening of the main conference day and will bring participants together in a convivial atmosphere. This social event offers a valuable opportunity to continue discussions initiated during the conference, strengthen professional relationships, and network with peers from across the sector in a more informal setting.

 

SPEAKERS

 
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Matt Baehr
Executive Director
Book Manufacturers’ Institute United States of America
Andrea Cangini
Secretary General
Luigi Einaudi Foundation Italy
Jasmine Darban
Book influencer
Sweden
Sonia Draga
President
Federation of European Publishers Belgium
Tobias Kaase
Chief Executive Officer
mediaprint solutions GmbH Germany
Alison Kaye
Joint Managing Director
CPI UK United Kingdom
Oliver Kranert
Managing director printing plants
Bertelsmann Germany
Peter Kraus vom Cleff
Managing Director
German Publishers and Booksellers Association Germany
Antti Makkonen
Sales Director for Graphic Papers
Sappi Europe Finland
Adam Page
VP Reports
Smithers United Kingdom
Normunds Poplens
Deputy Director General
Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission Belgium
LinkedIn
Matt Baehr
Executive Director
Book Manufacturers’ Institute United States of America
Matt Baehr is the Executive Director of the Book Manufacturers' Institute (BMI), where he has served as chief executive since 2017, leading the long standing trade association for book manufacturers and their suppliers. Before joining BMI, he held senior roles at the Data and Marketing Association (DMA), AVIXA (formerly InfoComm), and the Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association, and previously served as chief executive of the Arlington Soccer Association in Virginia. He holds an MBA from Ohio University and a bachelor’s degree from the Catholic University of America, and lives in Bradenton, Florida with his wife Mary and three children. He comes from a family of educators, who were staunch proponents of reading physical books at an early age. Matt has continued to instill that belief in his own children.
Andrea Cangini
Secretary General
Luigi Einaudi Foundation Italy

Andrea Cangini, graduated in Political Science, professional journalist since 1995. Editor-in-chief of Resto del Carlino and Quotidiano Nazionale from 2014 to 2018.Senator of the Republic from 2018 to 2022. He was group leader in the Senate Culture Committee, vice-chairman of the parliamentary committee of inquiry into illegal gambling, member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and vice-chairman of its Technological Trends and Security Committee. Since November 2022, he is the Secretary General of the Luigi Einaudi Foundation, where he founded the Carta, Penna & Digitale Observatory in defence of cursive handwriting and reading on paper.

Four books: with Francesco Cossiga, “Fotti il potere, gli arcana della politica e dell'umana natura” (2010), “L’onore e la sconfitta, politica italiana e guerre perse dal Trattato di pace del 47 al Fiscal compact del 2012” (2012) “La camicia nera di mio padre, riflessioni sulla morte della Patria” (2018), “CocaWeb, una generazione da salvare” (2022).
Jasmine Darban
Book influencer
Sweden
Jasmine Darban combines her passion for reading with a strong and authentic presence on social media. Over the years, she has grown into one of Sweden’s leading voices within the BookTok movement, where she inspires a new generation of readers by making literature accessible, engaging, and relevant in digital spaces. Beyond her work as a book influencer, Jasmine co-runs a publishing imprint in collaboration with Bonnier Carlsen. The imprint was created with the aim of reaching younger readers who have discovered literature through social media. By bridging traditional publishing with digital culture, she contributes to redefining how books are marketed and experienced today.
Alongside her creative work, Jasmine is currently completing her law degree. Her long-term ambition is to remain within the publishing industry after graduation, where she hopes to continue working strategically with promoting reading and youth engagement, combining her legal expertise with her deep-rooted passion for literature. In 2025, she was awarded Grafiska Företagen’s industry award, ‘Årets stora branschpris'.
Sonia Draga
President
Federation of European Publishers Belgium
Sonia Draga is the President of the Federation of European Publishers for the 2024-2026 mandate; first woman elected in that position. She is a Board Member and former President of the Polish Chamber of Books (PIK, Polska Izba Książki) and President of the eponym publishing house 'Sonia Draga Wydawnictwo'.
Picture credits: André Stachel and Rodrigo Mothé
Tobias Kaase
Chief Executive Officer
mediaprint solutions GmbH Germany
Tobias Kaase (46), CEO of mediaprint solutions GmbH, Germany. Trained as a media designer at Mohn Media – Mohndruck GmbH in Gütersloh. Graduated in 2006 with a degree in industrial engineering from the Stuttgart Media University. Until 2013, he was a member of the management team at the Encyclopedia publisher Bibliographisches Institut & F.A. Brockhaus AG in Mannheim. There he witnessed how Wikipedia completely disrupted the publisher's business model within just a few years. Subsequently, until 2017, he was a member of the Board at Athesia Kalenderverlag in Unterhaching. During this time, he was a founding member of the self-publishing company Calvendo GmbH, which used a disruptive approach to almost completely digitize the traditional processes of a calendar publisher. Since 2017, he has been CEO of mediaprint solutions GmbH in Paderborn. Together with his team, he developed mediaprint solutions into one of the most digitalized printing companies in Central Europe. Since 2024, he has been in addition co-managing director of Media-Print Group GmbH in Paderborn and CEO of Grafisches Centrum Cuno GmbH & Co. KG in Calbe. Tobias describes himself as a "hands-on expert" for change management and transformation in printing und publishing.
Alison Kaye
Joint Managing Director
CPI UK United Kingdom
Alison Kaye is the Joint Managing Director of CPI UK and Group Sales Director of CPI Group, with almost 30 years of experience in the printing industry. Throughout her career, she has been at the forefront of digital print innovation, developing deep expertise in global supply chain management and print on demand (PoD) solutions. She is passionate about helping publishers rethink traditional production models by focusing on the total cost of books sold rather than simply books printed. By championing transparency, efficiency, and smarter supply chain strategies, she works collaboratively with partners to reduce waste, improve responsiveness, and unlock sustainable value. Her goal is to support publishers in building resilient, data-driven print strategies that align commercial success with operational excellence and long-term sustainability.
Oliver Kranert
Managing director printing plants
Bertelsmann Germany

1992 – 2012 Bertelsmann managing director printing plants, Germany and Italy

2012 – 2026 C.H.Beck managing director printing plant and electronic media in Nördlingen, Germany

2017 – 2018 CPI Germany managing director
Peter Kraus vom Cleff
Managing Director
German Publishers and Booksellers Association Germany
Peter Kraus vom Cleff (*1967) has been Managing Director of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association (Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels) since 2022. He holds a degree in economics and was active in various publishing houses of the Georg von Holtzbrinck publishing group for more than 20 years, most recently managing Rowohlt Verlag as Commercial Director since 2008. From 2020 to 2022, he was President of the Federation of European Publishers (FEP).
Antti Makkonen
Sales Director for Graphic Papers
Sappi Europe Finland
Antti Makkonen is the Sales Director for Graphic Papers at Sappi Europe, overseeing global business across more than 65 countries and leading teams of over 100 professionals. With more than 25 years of international experience in sales leadership, strategic marketing, and commercial transformation in the paper industry. His career includes spearheading major business integrations, launching new product segments in graphic and speciality paper segments. Antti holds a Bachelor of Commerce from University College Cork and has completed executive studies at IMD Lausanne.
Adam Page
VP Reports
Smithers United Kingdom
Adam is VP Reports at Smithers, the worldwide authority for the printing, paper and packaging industries, with overall responsibility for its market reports business. Adam has over 20 years’ experience in project management, directing market research and working with clients to deliver high-value strategic studies and analysis. During his time at Smithers he has published hundreds of market studies, reports, technical books and single-client projects across a range of industries including printing, paper and packaging, and has delivered many insightful presentations at conferences and events around the world. Adam manages a global network of experts, consultants and researchers who contribute to hundreds of primary research-based projects every year, and is a member of the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals.
Normunds Poplens
Deputy Director General
Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission Belgium
Since January 2024, Normunds Popens is the Deputy Director General in the Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture. From 2011, Normunds Popens has been the Deputy Director General for Implementation in the Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy of the European Commission and in charge of overseeing the implementation of structural and cohesion fund programmes in EU member states and candidate countries. Before joining the European Commission in March 2011 he has occupied several posts in the Latvian diplomatic services. Notably from 2007 until 2011, he was a Permanent Representative of Latvia to the EU. Before that he dealt with European affairs as Undersecretary of State of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has been also responsible for the issues of foreign trade and transatlantic relations and has worked as an Ambassador in Norway, Iceland and in the USA as a diplomat.