The initiative, carried out with the support of the Campania Region, was conceived as a key opportunity for dialogue and exchange, aimed at sharing experiences and fostering innovation in the agri-food sector. The conference brought together all stakeholders in the economic and social system, inviting them to reflect on the challenges of a rapidly changing global context and the importance of identifying concrete and sustainable solutions through scientific research and technological innovation.

In Italy, numerous entities are actively engaged in research and development, each with specific expertise and distinct roles. This awareness led to the idea of organizing a multi-sector event capable of bringing together diverse experiences, stimulating dialogue between the research and production sectors, and creating new synergies.

The conference pursued several key objectives:

• to promote encounters between researchers, businesses, and institutions, overcoming communication gaps that often separate them;
• to involve qualified experts and professionals in discussions on topics of common interest;
• to present successful cases and best practices from national and international contexts;
• to analyze challenges and opportunities in Research & Development investments, identifying strategies to strengthen competitiveness;
• to create networking opportunities that foster mutual knowledge and the exchange of innovative solutions;
• to highlight the role and achievements of ProdAl, emphasizing the contribution of applied research to the advancement of the agri-food sector.

To make the value of its research activities tangible, ProdAl set up an exhibition space near the conference hall, where prototypes and technologies developed by its researchers were displayed. This space offered participants the opportunity for direct interaction, allowing them to explore innovative techniques and assess their practical applications in production contexts.

During the conference, the results of a comprehensive analysis of research at global, national, and regional levels were presented, with particular focus on funding policies and innovation support tools. The study, conducted by ProdAl in 2007, was published in “Innovation as a Lever for the Development of the Agri-Food Sector”, demonstrating the center’s commitment to monitoring evolving research dynamics and promoting development models based on technological innovation and sustainable competitiveness.