Apps on the go are the aim of new Hackathon events planned for Bangalore, Berlin and Singapore.

WAN-Ifra kicked off the innovation initiative with an ‘Ideathon’ at the Tech Open Air Festival in Berlin earlier this month, and will reprise it during the World Publishing Expo there in October.

A Bangalore hackathon is planned for September 13 as part of Publish Asia, and another will follow in Singapore on the final day of the Newsplex Asia’s News App Challenge (October 12).

Organisers hope that by pooling talent from its international members network and the open tech community, participants will gain an opportunity to create platforms for tomorrow’s needs. Previous hackathons have resulted in the development of quick apps and software now used by journalists and newsrooms.

The event at Tech Open Air assembled tech-minded journalists and media professionals to brainstorm ideas for the hackathon to be held on October 5-6 during World Publishing Expo.

WAN-Ifra chief executive Vincent Peyrègne has welcomed the initiative: “Our fundamental mission is to connect innovators and media professionals, supporting the transformation of the news industry.

“These hackathons, together with the Innovation Days organised around the World Publishing Expo, and other initiatives to be announced in Berlin in October, help establish a renewed international network of multidisciplinary experts, a group of visionary practitioners, open innovators,” he says.

“There is a need for our industry to take the lead on innovation, encourage the development of user-driven solutions that make optimal use of news media, adapt to new consumer behaviours and address an increased competition.”

Winners of the Berlin hackathon will be announced on October 7 at the opening of WPE, and of the Singapore event at Digital Media Asia.