The fairs
Connecting Research & Market
Participation in major industry trade fairs represents an important opportunity for ProdAl to engage with the production sector, showcase its research activities, and build new relationships at both national and international levels.
Being present at these events allows the Center to interact directly with companies, operators, and professionals in the agri-food sector, monitor market developments first-hand, and present innovative solutions developed within its research projects.
Beyond 2025 4-6/04/2025 , Athens, Greece
Beyond Expo Athens: Digital and Sustainable Solutions for Water Management
As part of the European AccelWater project, ProdAl participated in Beyond Expo in Athens, an international exhibition dedicated to emerging technologies, digitalization, and sustainable industrial solutions. The event focused heavily on resource optimization and the ecological transition of industrial processes.
Key Objectives
ProdAl’s presence at the joint project exhibition stand aimed to:
- Dissemination. Showcase the key results and milestones of the AccelWater project, which focuses on efficient industrial water management.
- International networking. Connect with businesses, technology providers, and industry stakeholders to promote the adoption of circular economy models.
Research and Practical Applications: The AccelWater Project
The core focus was on optimizing water consumption in industrial processes through the introduction of enabling technologies and smart monitoring systems. The results presented highlighted tangible benefits for the sector:
- Reduction of the water footprint in processing plants.
- Reclamation, purification, and reuse of process water within an industrial symbiosis framework.
- Optimization of energy consumption related to water treatment systems.
ProdAl’s role
Participation in Beyond Expo confirmed ProdAl’s ability to operate at the forefront of sustainable innovation, positioning the Center as a strategic partner ready to deliver concrete solutions that balance environmental stewardship with industrial competitiveness.
Anuga FoodTech – 20-23/03/2018, Colonia, Germany
Anuga FoodTec 2018: Innovation and Sustainability for the European Food Industry
As part of the European FieldFOOD project, ProdAl participated in Anuga FoodTec 2018, a leading international trade fair dedicated to food and beverage processing and packaging technologies. This edition focused heavily on resource efficiency across the entire production chain.
Key objectives
ProdAl’s presence at the joint project exhibition stand (Hall 4.2) aimed to:
- Dissemination. Showcase and add value to the results of the experimental and pilot activities developed by the European partnership.
- Networking. Facilitate technology transfer and establish new scientific and commercial synergies among research organizations, businesses, and industry stakeholders.
Research and Practical applications: PEF technology
The core focus was the adoption of Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) technology within Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), featuring specific case studies in the tomato, wine, and fruit processing (apples and cherries) sectors. The results presented highlighted tangible benefits:
- Increased production efficiency.
- Enhanced product shelf life.
- Low-cost technological solutions to boost SME competitiveness.
ProdAl’s role
Participation in Anuga FoodTec 2018 confirmed ProdAl’s position as a key driver and bridge in agrifood innovation, successfully turning scientific research into sustainable, advanced, and market-ready industrial solutions.
R2B – Research to Business – 6-7/06/2012, Bologna, Italy
R2B – Research to Business 2012: The Industrial Research Marketplace
ProdAl participated in the 7th edition of R2B – Research to Business (BolognaFiere), the International Exhibition of Industrial Research promoted by the Emilia-Romagna Region, Aster, and SMAU. The event served as a multi-sector marketplace matching technology supply and demand to foster new business opportunities.
Thematic Focus and Matching Activities
Within the exhibition—which featured technical workshops, conferences, and specialized areas—ProdAl focused its presence on the Agrifood sector, actively taking part in the business matching activities. This strategic format enabled the Center to:
- Engage key decision-makers. Connect directly with corporate executives, innovation managers, and product/process development leaders.
- Drive collaborative partnerships. Pitch concrete technological solutions to businesses, spin-offs, and investors seeking research-to-industry collaborations on both a national and international scale.
Event context
R2B 2012 established itself as a high-profile international hub, bringing together High-Technology Networks, universities, incubators, and foreign delegations from Europe, Brazil, Canada, and China, creating an ideal ecosystem for technology transfer.
ProdAl’s Role
Participation in the R2B 2012 matching sessions highlighted ProdAl’s market-oriented and applied approach, positioning the Center as a strategic partner capable of answering the real technological innovation needs expressed by the industrial sector.
SIAL, The Global Food Marketplace – 17-24/10/2008, Paris, France
SIAL Paris: Research and Innovation on the Global Agrifood stage
ProdAl’s participation in SIAL Paris, one of the world’s leading food exhibitions, offered a strategic platform to engage with global market trends and promote cutting-edge solutions for food quality and safety.
Technology in action: Live demos and products
Inside its dedicated exhibition space, ProdAl brought scientific research to life through a highly practical, hands-on approach:
- Laboratory-scale Ohmic Heating system. Live demonstrations showing the clear advantages of this innovative technology for food sanitization.
- Product showcase. Display of real food samples (legumes, vegetables, fruit mousses, and pesto) processed using mild technologies, allowing visitors to visually appreciate the quality improvements over traditional processing methods.
Networking and Brokerage activities
Beyond informal B2B dialogue, ProdAl maximized its presence through targeted meetings with global stakeholders. This was further enhanced by structured brokerage events organized in collaboration with the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) to foster new industrial partnerships.
ProdAl’s Role
SIAL Paris confirmed ProdAl’s position as a vital bridge between science and industry, successfully transferring advanced research into concrete, sustainable, and internationally competitive applications for the agrifood sector.
CIBUS Rome- 13-16/04/2007, Rome, Italy
Cibus Roma 2007: Research and Technology transfer supporting “Made in Italy”
As part of the Campania Region’s initiative to promote Regional Competence Centers, ProdAl participated in the inaugural edition of Cibus Roma 2007 (Nuova Fiera di Roma). The event focused on showcasing Italian food excellence and fostering dialogue among producers, buyers, and agrifood professionals.
Objectives and Institutional presence
Hosted within the Campania Region exhibition space (Hall 1 – Stand 29), ProdAl leveraged this key showcase to:
- Promote services. Present its research activities, technological services, and collaboration opportunities designed to support the supply chain.
- Strategic networking. Strengthen existing relationships and initiate new contacts with industry stakeholders and selected companies, both at the main stand and through targeted visits to exhibitors.
Event context
Featuring around 750 exhibitors, this first Roman edition of Cibus served as a biennial complement to the historic Parma exhibition, establishing an ideal ecosystem for knowledge exchange and the national and international promotion of the Made in Italy brand.
ProdAl’s Role
Participation in Cibus Roma 2007 confirmed ProdAl’s standing as a qualified, strategic partner for agrifood businesses, driving innovation and technology transfer to boost the competitiveness of the Italian production system.
Menti@Contatto – 24-26/02/2006; 16-18/03/2007; 23-25/05/2008, Naples, Italy
Menti@Contatto: Scientific dissemination and Engagement with youth and the local community
ProdAl participated in several editions of Menti@Contatto, an event dedicated to innovation and new technologies, promoted by the Ministry for University and Scientific Research of the Campania Region. The event served as a major platform for public engagement and career guidance, attracting an average of 500 visitors per day.
Local presence and Key activities
Through an interactive exhibition stand and participation in thematic conferences, the Center engaged a broad audience – particularly students, families, and young people – achieving the following goals:
- Youth guidance. Inspiring younger generations to pursue educational and professional paths in agrifood innovation.
- Hands-on dissemination. Illustrating the impact of applied research by showcasing scientific processes and distributing samples of regional food products.
- Institutional synergies. Fostering dialogue, knowledge exchange, and networking with other Competence Centers and regional public institutions.
ProdAl’s role and Future evolution
This experience confirmed ProdAl’s position as a local benchmark for applied research. The feedback gathered also provided valuable insights for future editions, highlighting opportunities to enhance communication strategies and drive even more direct involvement from the business sector.
