Labotec Talent Academy

Today, the search for highly specialized young talent is a fundamental priority for the most dynamic, innovative, and technologically advanced companies. But how can talent, new skills, and the world of work be effectively combined in an increasingly complex economic landscape?

“Talent Academy” is a special area of Labotec (October 27–28, 2026 – Fiere di Parma), created with this objective in mind, in collaboration with Cisita Parma, the training body of UPI (Unione Parmense degli Industriali) and GIA (Gruppo Imprese Artigiane), both associations belonging to the Confindustria system.

The goal of Talent Academy is to promote meaningful and productive connections between schools and specialized training institutes, on the one hand, and company representatives from the laboratory and scientific analysis sectors, on the other. The initiative aims to highlight the added value of multilevel collaboration between advanced training programs and the production sector.

Throughout the days of the fair, the Talent Academy stand will welcome visitors by presenting the opportunities offered by the represented training system, sharing useful information and details with teachers, students, parents, and company representatives. This will also take place through a series of meetings and talks where experts, managers, and young talents will discuss the most current topics related to skills, innovation, and the world of work.

Cisita Parma's Partner for Labotec Talent Academy 2026 is ITS Tech&Food Academy, the Innovation Hub for the Agrifood Sector. The ITS Tech&Food Academy, founded in Parma in 2011 in the heart of the Food Valley, is a benchmark for professionalizing tertiary education in the agrifood sector. With an offering of 8 free two-year courses (2026-2028) and four locations in Emilia-Romagna, the Academy responds to the real needs of the agrifood industry, guaranteeing immediate employment thanks to a curriculum tailored to the requirements of local businesses. The educational model combines 1,200 hours of high-level technical training across classrooms, laboratories, educational visits, and participation in trade fairs, with 800 hours of company internships. It integrates project work, business simulations, and the opportunity to activate apprenticeship pathways during the second year.

Inaugurated in September 2025, the Parma headquarters of the ITS Tech&Food Academy represents technological excellence available to the local area, equipped with cutting-edge laboratories ready to support the growth of future talents:

• Scientific Area. Consumer Science Lab: workstations equipped for sensory analysis (acceptability and R&D tests) to study consumer perception; Quality Assurance Lab: professional instruments for microbiological and physicochemical analyses, essential for ensuring food safety and shelf-life.
• Technological Area: Robotic Arms Lab (e.DO Learning Center): 6-axis robotic arms to simulate industrial automation and test Industry 4.0 solutions; SAP Laboratory – Virtual Factory: a digitalized factory to simulate supply chain, logistics, and production process optimization.

The laboratories are available to companies, startups, and organizations wishing to develop ideas, propose projects, and test their innovative products. Indeed, ITS Tech&Food Academy is not just a school, but a strategic partner for companies seeking professionals ready to lead the digital transformation, sustainability, and food quality of the future.

Labotec Talent Academy – Talk Area
2026 Meeting Schedule

27/10/2026 – 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Tech Lab: the impact of automation in the Agrifood Sector

From new challenges to practice: how the “Robotic Arms – e.DO Learning Center” laboratory shapes the skills of 4.0 technicians.

Speakers: Representatives from COMAU, students, and graduates of ITS Tech&Food Academy.

28/10/2026 – 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Quality Assurance Lab: allergen management for food safety

Food Safety: the importance of analyses carried out in the Quality Assurance laboratory for managing allergens, in order to protect the health of final consumers.

Speakers: Representatives from the Experimental Station for the Food Preserving Industry (SSICA), the Ligurian Association of Allergic Patients (ALA), students, and graduates of ITS Tech&Food Academy.

Please note that all sessions will be conducted in Italian

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