The Institute, based in Vienna, will use the grant for its IPI News Innovation Contest, which will fund both non-profit and for-profit projects related to the development of digital news platforms, new business models for journalism and training in digital reporting throughout Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
The $2.7 million makes up a significant chunk of the $5 million Google promised to donate to non-profit organizations working to further development in digital journalism in October 2010.
At the time, Google awarded $2 million to the Knight Foundation in the U.S. and pledged to spend the remaining $3 million in international news efforts. Like the International Press Institute, the Knight Foundation funds open-source projects related to innovation in digital and mobile reporting, new economic models for news and community development.
Applications for the IPI News Innovation Content are due June 1, 2011.