During the run-up to SaMoTer 2026, Veronafiere is delighted to launch the new training hub supporting evolution in the construction machinery sector.
Verona, 18 July 2025– Veronafiere has officially announced the launch of the SaMoTer Academy, a strategic project in collaboration with Engim Veneto set up to support change in the construction machinery sector through qualified training, technical culture and the development of skills.
The initiative will come to life at the 32nd SaMoTer (the triennial International Construction Machinery Exhibition scheduled in Verona 6-9 May 2026 and organised by Veronafiere in partnership with UNACEA and CECE) and aims to provide effective answers to a crucial challenge in this sector: the gap between supply and demand for qualified operators. This structural problem affects the market, limits competitiveness not only of exhibitors but also their clients, the professional visitors attending SaMoTer. The construction industry is currently at the centre of unprecedented evolution driven by the ecological transition, digitalisation, automation, new European regulations and changes in work models.
The educational sphere also suffers from a significant imbalance: only about 6 percent of Italian students today choose vocational training schools focusing on mechanics, the electrical systems, plumbing and heating sector and general maintenance, compared to a European average of about 25 percent. SaMoTer Academy aims to reverse this trend, by offering young people professionalizing paths with a strong link to the job market and ongoing digital transformation.
Against this background, SaMoTer Academy comes forward as a stable training ecosystem, active throughout the year, supporting companies, technicians and young professionals along the process of permanent updating. The project integrates theoretical lectures, practical sessions and immersive training, thanks to strategic collaborations with ENGIM Veneto and vocational training schools in the Veneto region, technical institutes, training agencies, research institutions and leading companies in the sector. The aim is to build a bridge between the educational system and the production sector.
The training project is designed to help students make informed decisions after middle school (starting at 15 years of age) guiding them towards career in the construction equipment sector as well as giving manufacturing companies the chance to train future operators directly on their own machinery and equipment. Students will be able to access specific programmes, integrating theoretical lessons with practical sessions and work experiences developed in collaboration with the top figures and technological partners in the sector. At the end of the course, students will earn a professional qualification or diplomas.
The SaMoTer Academy project is exclusively reserved for exhibitors at SaMoTer 2026 who can join through sponsorship. Companies can contribute to educational content by offering internships at their headquarters. This is a concrete opportunity to invest in human resources, strengthen employer branding and encourage generational turnover.
“By launching the SaMoTer Academy,” said Matteo Pasinato, SaMoTer event manager at Veronafiere, “we seek to provide a permanent landmark for updates, comparisons and growth for everyone working or preparing to work in this rapidly changing world. The Academy came into being after listening to the needs expressed by the supply chain: companies looking for new skills, young people asking for practical and up-to-date training, and institutions pushing for a more sustainable and digitalised sector. This is why we conceived a project that does not end after the trade fair as such closes but continues throughout the year, with training content, special events and strategic collaborations with research institutions, professional schools and companies. It is our contribution towards building together a more competitive, resilient and well-prepared sector for the challenges of the future.”
With SaMoTer Academy project, Veronafiere confirms its vocation not only to be an exhibition venue but also a cultural, technical and professional accelerator for the entire construction supply chain. A far-sighted project that already today has begun to shape the future of a key sector for Italy’s economy, the environment and infrastructures.
2026 will also see the return of SaMoTer Lab as a strategic stage for the sector. By encouraging dialogue between technology producers, professionals, operators and construction companies.
Thanks, lastly, to collaboration with the ICE Italian Trade Agency, SaMoTer 2026 edition will strengthen incoming attendance from Eastern Europe (Balkans area) Northern Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South America, with the aim of further enhancing the event’s global reach.
