The Innovation Alliance returns to Fiera Milano
GreenPlast, Ipack-Ima, Print4All, and Intralogistica Italia run simultaneously: showcasing the best of a Made in Italy technology, which generates a €10 billion trade surplus. 1,857 companies from 38 countries for a sector worth over €25 billion.
With 1,857 exhibitors—39% of them international, from 38 countries (with the largest precences from China, Germany, Turkey, France, and the Netherlands)—11 halls occupied, and more than 500 top foreign buyers from 75 countries selected with the support of the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), The Innovation Alliance returns to Fiera Milano from May 27 to 30. This event brings together four international trade shows - GreenPlast, Ipack-Ima, Print4All, and Intralogistica Italia - offering an integrated perspective on the innovative capabilities of industrial machinery serving the manufacturing industry.
“The Innovation Alliance is a concrete example of how trade shows, by joining forces, can generate greater value than the sum of their parts,” said Simona Greco, Director of Hosted Exhibitions at Fiera Milano. “Connecting adjacent sectors—from plastics to packaging, from printing to logistics—means building an integrated platform that more effectively addresses global challenges. This systemic approach is essential for strategic sectors like those represented at Fiera Milano which, together, in Italy are worth over €25 billion, with more than 90,000 employees and an export share that, in some cases, exceeds 70% of production. It is within this broader vision that innovation finds fertile ground to thrive.”
This is a supply chain ecosystem ranging from plastic and rubber processing technologies to packaging, from printing and converting to warehouse logistics—an ecosystem with a strong focus on innovation and sustainability. Cutting-edge solutions are showcased, where digitalization, automation, artificial intelligence, and IoT enhance production efficiency while simultaneously reducing environmental impact.
CAPITAL GOODS: A STRATEGIC SECTOR FOR THE ITALIAN ECONOMY
Against the backdrop of a still-unstable global economy - marked by slowdowns in Europe, a German economic crisis, and international trade tensions - Italy shows surprising resilience, with +0.3% GDP growth in the first quarter of 2025, continuing a trend of economic endurance that has lasted over two years.
In this context, as highlighted by a study presented today by economist Marco Fortis, the sectors represented at The Innovation Alliance play a decisive role in national competitiveness.
Packaging machinery, printing and converting equipment, and plastics processing technologies continue to drive Italian exports and support the resilience of national trade performance, which would have seen a sharper decline without these sectors.
“In an extremely challenging global environment, capital goods confirms itself as one of the most solid pillars of Italian industry,” summarizes Marco Fortis, Vice President of the Edison Foundation. “These sectors are not only a clear example of resilience but also make a substantial contribution to Italian International competitiveness and to its positive trade balance. The market for machinery and technologies showcased at The Innovation Alliance generated a foreign trade surplus of around €10 billion in 2024, equivalent to 9% of Italy’s total manufacturing trade surplus of €121 billion. This is a Made in Italy of excellence that, economically speaking, even surpasses iconic sectors such as wine or furniture.”
Compared to the pre-COVID period, the markets represented by The Innovation Alliance have strengthened their international presence, with a particularly strong boost in the packaging sector, which has driven exports to strategic markets such as the United States, Germany, and France.
In this scenario, the threat of tariffs—though potentially disruptive—is not, according to Fortis, a decisive factor: assuming equal tariffs, Italian technology remains solid and well-positioned, particularly compared to German and Chinese competitors, with no signs of declining competitiveness.
THE FOUR MAINSTAYS OF THE INNOVATION ALLIANCE
GreenPlast is the international exhibition-conference dedicated to technologies and materials for plastic and rubber processing, with a strong focus on environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.
IPACK-IMA is the leading international trade show for materials and technologies in processing and packaging for the food and non-food industries. It is an integrated and interconnected exhibition platform focusing on four core market sectors: grain-based food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and the Food, Fresh & Convenience segment.
Print4All is the reference event for the entire printing and converting supply chain, an innovation hub where materials, technologies, applications, and future visions come together to reshape the print industry—an increasingly sustainable, innovative, and versatile reality.
INTRALOGISTICA ITALIA is the only event in Italy entirely dedicated to advanced solutions for industrial handling, automation, and warehouse management. It is a benchmark for the international market thanks to a winning mix of high-profile exhibitors, thematic conferences, and strategic partnerships.
INNOVATION, DIGITALIZATION, AI, AND SUSTAINABILITY: HOW TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING INDUSTRY
The machinery and solutions on display at The Innovation Alliance reflect the evolution of modern manufacturing: digitalization, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and data security are the key drivers running across all four exhibitions.
Digital transformation enables more connected, efficient, and intelligent processes, while artificial intelligence is revolutionizing operations management through automation, predictive maintenance, and real-time optimization. In an increasingly interconnected industrial context, cybersecurity is becoming essential to ensure continuity and protection.
At the same time, sustainability is reaffirmed as a strategic lever. The technologies and materials presented follow the principles of the circular economy, aiming to reduce consumption and waste while optimizing resource use across the entire production chain.
TRAINING, SKILLS, AND HUMAN CAPITAL
The Innovation Alliance presents itself not only as a technological showcase but as a strategic platform for dialogue among stakeholders across the same value chain. This is accompanied by a rich program of education and professional development, tailored within each of the four shows, designed to guide companies through ongoing transformation and to enhance human capital.
In a rapidly evolving production landscape, investing in new technical-digital skills becomes essential to strengthening competitiveness and supporting the international role of Italian manufacturing.
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