The Niiu project, based in Berlin, enables subscribers to select what content their daily newspaper will include when it is delivered, with content downloaded from various news providers on the web and printed overnight.

Berlin residents signing up on the Niiu website can select from local and national news, as well as sport, politics and other specific pull-outs. The newspaper's front and back pages will be adverts based on the user's interests garnered from websites such as Facebook and MySpace.

InterTi, a company set up by two young German entrepreneurs, will print the newspapers on an Océ Jetstream 2200.

The website is already running and taking subscriptions; the first newspapers will be sent out on 13 October when the official launch takes place on Océ's stand at the Vienna show.

According to Paul Krisson, development manager for digital document services at Océ, more than one major German publisher is involved with the project..

Krisson said: "As an example, if somebody is at university somewhere they might like to get their local news from home, so they can get pages from the Basingstoke Gazette. But the user also wants national sport. They may choose to take that from The Sun.

"I think it is interesting to note that this is something aimed at getting young people reading newspapers, designed by young people. If this model works I see this going global."

Océ is already in discussion with UK publishers about following the German trial, if it is a success.

Newspaper publishers in Europe have long been using subscription models, but in the UK it is less common.

Krisson added: "We may have more of a mountain to climb over here [in the UK]. But, if you are offered content relevant to the individual, I would think it would make you more likely to go down that route. I think the take-up would be better than simply launching a subscription."

Ifra Expo 2009 is due to be held on 12-15 October in Vienna. For more information, visit the exhibition's website.