Cibus Tec Talent Academy

Today, the search for highly specialized young talent is a fundamental priority for the most dynamic, innovative, and technologically advanced companies. But how can talent, new skills, and the world of work be effectively combined in an increasingly complex economic landscape?

“Talent Academy” is a special area of Cibus Tec (October 27–30, 2026 – Fiere di Parma), created with this objective in mind, in collaboration with Cisita Parma, the training body of UPI (Unione Parmense degli Industriali) and GIA (Gruppo Imprese Artigiane), both associations belonging to the Confindustria system.

The goal of Talent Academy is to promote meaningful and productive connections between schools and specialized training institutes, on the one hand, and company representatives from the food technology sectors, on the other. The initiative aims to highlight the added value of multilevel collaboration between advanced training programs and the production sector.

Throughout the days of the fair, the Talent Academy stand will welcome visitors by presenting the opportunities offered by the represented training system, sharing useful information and details with teachers, students, parents, and company representatives. This will also take place through a series of meetings and talks where experts, managers, and young talents will discuss the most current topics related to skills, innovation, and the world of work.

Contest open to Upper Secondary Schools (3rd and 4th Year Classes)

FOOD FUTURE CHALLENGE
Where creativity, technology and sustainability meet each other

Within this context, in preparation for the new edition of Cibus Tec 2026, the Talent Academy of Cisita Parma launches a new initiative represented by the contest “FOOD FUTURE CHALLENGE – Where creativity, technology and sustainability meet.” It is a real competition specifically designed for 3rd and 4th year classes of Upper Secondary Schools in Parma and its province.

Classes (or groups of classes) are invited to develop and present projects that may be designed and developed — according to the participants’ choice — within one of the following thematic areas:

a) Food Processing – Build the food production of tomorrow.
b) Food Packaging – Imagine new ways to protect, communicate, and sustain food.
c) Beverage – Rethink products and strategies for the beverage world of the future.

Schools interested in participating will receive the official regulations and instructions for the contest, along with guidance and support from a dedicated working group established by the Talent Academy of Cisita Parma to assist schools in developing their projects.

Project evaluation — based on criteria such as innovative vision, consistency with the chosen theme, creativity, environmental impact, effectiveness of presentation, and feasibility — will be entrusted to a jury jointly appointed with the Cibus Tec fair. The jury will be formed by representatives from the fair itself, Cisita Parma, and companies taking part as exhibitors in the fair that join and support the contest.

Contest Timeline:

1) March – June 2026. Launch and development of the contest, with the first collection of completed projects.
2) September – October 2026. Follow-up and final evaluation of the projects.
3) October 27–30, 2026. Presentation of the winning projects and award ceremony at Cibus Tec, during the talk sessions held in the Talent Academy stand area.

For further information: Carlotta Petrolini – Orientation Coordinator, Cisita Parma (Email: petrolini@cisita.parma.it; Direct phone: +39 0521 226542).

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