Agenda
The 1st VLF4EU Conference is organized as a single day on 14 October 2026, within the 35.BI-MU exhibition at Fiera Milano (Rho), running from 09:30 to 16:30. It brings together strong elements into one focused day, keeping the active, hands-on and peer-learning character at the center of the event.
The morning takes place at the BI-MU Competence Arena – one of the fair’s main speech stages, for maximum visibility among visitors – and the afternoon moves to the dedicated LEM conference rooms for parallel, hands-on sessions. Partners are involved both in designing and in delivering the sessions. The VLF4EU project stand remains open throughout the four days of the fair (13–16 October).
Overview
Morning · Competence Arena – opening and project introduction, the European skills-gap study (D2.4), two invited keynotes with a short break, and a plenary roundtable.
Afternoon · LEM Rooms A & B – practice talks and a live VLF showcase, parallel hands-on workshops, and the closing roundtable.
Morning · BI-MU Competence Arena
Registration
Arrival of participants, registration and informal networking.
VLF4EU Conference Opening & Introduction
Welcome by UCIMU and the project’s coordinator IMH Campus.
Davide Della Bella, General Manager at UCIMU.
Kristian Sanz Bastida, Lifelong Learning Manager at IMH Campus.
The skills gap in European manufacturing and the role of VLFs
Public study across six countries. Frames the challenge VLF4EU addresses and why virtual learning factories matter.
Sara Caballero, People Area Technician at AFM.
Josu Riezu, People Area Director at AFM.
Virtual Worlds, Real Skills: Rethinking Education’s Impact on Competency Development
Filippo Antonini, R&D at Sinergia.
Break
Short networking break.
Plenary roundtable
Virtual Learning Factories in Practice:
Schools, Learners and Companies Around One Table
Moderated across four dimensions: infrastructure, pedagogy, teacher capacity and industry cooperation.
Francesco Tosi, Educational and Course Coordinator at ITS Incom.
Iryna Pushchak, Project Manager at Sinergia.
Luca Quaratino, Lecturer in Business Organization at IULM University.
Digital twins and Education in Machining
Massimiliano Annoni, Associate Professor at the Mechanical Engineering Department of Politecnico di Milano.
Lunch break & BI-MU exploration
Time to explore the fair; transition from the Competence Arena to the LEM rooms.
Afternoon · LEM Conference Rooms A & B
Welcome back & afternoon briefing
Room A. Framing of the afternoon’s parallel, hands-on format.
Parallel block 1
Room A — From Shop Floor to Classroom: Empowering the Next Generation with Industrial Digital Twins
SIEMENS:
Matteo Ghezzi, Head of Application Acceleration – Machine Tools.
Guiseppe Mulè, Business Development Team Leader.
Nicola Cescato, Head of Sales EMEA – Machine Digitalization Software.
Room B — Stakeholder – Engaged Design of Activities in Virtual Learning Fatories
Managing complexity through shared decisions on authentic skills, expectations and relevance
Research Center for Industrial Digital Transformation, University College of Northern Denmark /UCN):
Anders Vestergaard, Reseach Manager.
René Bennyson, Senior Lecturer and Researcher.
Andres Bad Lund, Lecturer.
Coffee break
Short coffee break.
Parallel block 2
Room A — Authoring tools to create immersive experiences: Demo of KAYROX and UPRAISE project
Ana Moya, IT Project Manager at Tecnalia.
Kristian Sanz Bastida, Lifelong Learning Manager at IMH Campus.
Room B — Workshop on physical process to digital model, shadow and twin
CESI LINEACT:
Sylvain Noblecourt, Researcher-lecturer.
Marc Lacomblez, Research and Development (R&D) Engineer.
Prométhée Toneatti, PhD Student.
Room A plenary – Closing roundtable & conclusions
IMH Campus and UCIMU.
VLF4EU Project Stand · 13–16 October
VLF4EU project stand
The VLF4EU project stand is located in the educational area of 35.BI-MU and is open throughout the four days of the exhibition (13–16 October). With an area of 16 m², the stand presents a physical setup together with the digital twin developed by ECOLE within the project. It is staffed by ECOLE and UCIMU for the full duration of the fair, so consortium partners are not required to remain on site all four days. The stand also serves as a meeting point for participants, visiting VET students and exhibition visitors, and can host the conference posters across all fair days.