MECSPE 2025

The manufacturing industry took center stage at one of the sector’s most anticipated events: MECSPE, the benchmark trade fair for the manufacturing industry, organized by Senaf and held at BolognaFiere from March 5 to 7, 2025. Now in its 23rd edition, MECSPE welcomed 66,573 visitors, who had the opportunity to meet over 2,100 exhibiting companies, explore 13 thematic halls, and navigate more than 100,000 square meters of exhibition space. With these impressive numbers, MECSPE confirmed itself as a unique opportunity to explore the latest technological innovations, engage with industry experts, and discover new growth prospects.

The 2025 edition stood out for its strong focus on ecological and digital transition, dedicating significant attention to the skills needed for this transformation. Thanks to the Transition Plan 5.0—which allocates €6.3 billion in incentives to support the adoption of advanced technologies—MECSPE provided a privileged platform for discussions on highly relevant topics such as artificial intelligence, collaborative robotics, digital twins, and additive manufacturing, all key tools for improving production efficiency.

At the opening event, after the institutional welcome by Elena Mazzoni, Regional Minister for Digital Agenda, Legality, and Poverty Alleviation of the Emilia-Romagna Region, a panel discussion took place on the theme of digital and energy transition. Participants included Raffaele Spallone, Head of Division II – Policies for Business Digitalization, Innovation and Sector Analysis at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Antonio Bruzzone, CEO of BolognaFiere, Ivo Nardella, President of Senaf – Tecniche Nuove Group, and Stefano Cattorini, General Director of the BI-REX Competence Center, who shared data from the MECSPE Observatory on the industry related to Q3 2024, along with forecasts for 2025. The discussion offered updated insights on the health of the industrial sector, diving into new technologies, sustainability, and training.

The incentives provided by the Transition Plan 5.0, approved last year by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, remain a crucial factor for innovation and competitiveness among the more than 526,000 active companies in the manufacturing sector—one of the pillars of Italy’s economy. Thanks to the funding made available through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), 7 out of 10 entrepreneurs stated they made investments that otherwise would have been impossible or significantly reduced. Growth must continue through the new 5.0 measures, which complement the digital transition with an energy transition—steering the sector toward increasingly sustainable and efficient transformation.

MECSPE 2025, with over 66,500 visitors, featured a rich program of special initiatives designed to offer an immersive and highly educational experience into the industry’s most important innovations. These included the TMP Demonstration Unit: From Granule to Finished Product, an area dedicated to the plastics sector that showcased the entire production process—from raw material to finished product—through next-generation machinery and live demonstrations, and the Electronic Production Line, a demonstration project by Elettronica Italia that highlighted advanced electronic assembly processes, from design to the creation of printed circuit boards, with a strong focus on efficiency and technological innovation.

Other noteworthy events, especially in terms of innovation and emerging technologies, included the Start-Up Factory, an area dedicated to young innovative companies presenting cutting-edge solutions for the manufacturing sector. It facilitated connections between startups, established businesses, and investors interested in new technologies and business models. Additionally, the Artificial Intelligence Forum offered a space for discussion and in-depth exploration of AI applications in manufacturing, featuring expert talks and case studies on how artificial intelligence can boost productivity and industrial automation.

Thanks to the collaboration of ICE, the Italian Trade Agency for the promotion and internationalization of Italian businesses, the event also welcomed buyer delegations from 11 countries: Algeria, Bosnia, Croatia, India, Mexico, Poland, Czech Republic, Morocco, Turkey, Hungary, and Uzbekistan. This initiative created new business opportunities for exhibitors by expanding their networks through a program of business matching, one-on-one meetings, and international networking activities.

Before returning to Bologna for the 2026 edition, scheduled for March 4–6, MECSPE will head to Bari from November 27 to 29, 2025, at the Nuova Fiera del Levante—an important innovation and business hub in Southern Italy. This edition will represent a unique opportunity for Southern Italian companies to connect with both national and international industrial landscapes. The event will feature thematic halls covering key industry sectors, with particular emphasis on technological innovation, digitalization, and strategies for a more sustainable and competitive manufacturing sector.

Among the main highlights of the Bari edition, special attention will be given to business opportunities for Southern Italian SMEs. The targeted exhibition offer aims to support the growth of the local manufacturing sector through networking sessions, B2B meetings, and conferences with industry experts. A dedicated area for startups and young innovators will also be present, encouraging the integration of new technologies and skills into Southern Italy’s industrial ecosystem.

Then in 2026, everyone will gather once again at BolognaFiere from March 4 to 6 for a new edition focused on innovation, growth, and the connections that will shape the future of industry.

MECSPE