More than 110,000 visitors from around the world attended Hannover Messe, the leading global trade fair dedicated to manufacturing industry, a key showcase for concrete solutions for the sector – where Artificial Intelligence, automation and digitalisation play a fundamental role in optimising production processes and increasing competitiveness.
Between 20 and 24 April, INESC TEC participated in Hannover Messe, in Germany, sharing space with more than 3,000 exhibitors, as part of the involvement in the PRODUTECH R3 mobilising agenda of the Recovery and Resilience Programme (PRR). The PRODUTECH R3 agenda aims to improve Portugal’s production technologies sector for the digital and green transition, promoting the development of new products and services, professional training, and the internationalisation of the national industry.
Throughout the week, INESC TEC researchers from the Systems Engineering Management area showcased solutions with direct industrial impact. Among the demonstrations presented were digital twin solutions applied to industrial and logistics environments, as well as advanced tools for optimising logistics and production systems, including algorithms for palletisation and cargo loading, warehouse route planning, and decision-support systems for picking and dispatch operations. António Galrão Ramos, who is also a professor at the Polytechnic Institute of Porto’s School of Engineering, and Pedro Rocha were responsible for INESC TEC’s participation in the event.
“Hannover Messe is a privileged showcase for demonstrating how applied research in optimisation and digital twins can address concrete industrial challenges. It was very rewarding to see the interest from international companies in our solutions, particularly in the areas of cargo loading and logistics operations management, which reinforces the relevance of the work we have been developing at INESC TEC,” said António Galrão Ramos.
Pedro Rocha added that “the participation also allowed us to identify new collaboration opportunities and to validate, with the market, the maturity of our technologies for industrial transfer. Direct contact with potential partners and clients is essential to accelerate the adoption of these solutions by industry.”
With Brazil as partner country, this year’s Hannover Messe featured thematic talks, demonstrations and interactive activities showcasing solutions for improving processes and increasing competitiveness, while also providing political and academic leaders with unique experiences aimed at strengthening debate on the future of industry.
The 2027 edition is already scheduled to take place from 5 to 8 April.
Cover photo credits: Hannover Messe 2026, Deutsche Messe AG
News, current topics, curiosities and so much more about INESC TEC and its community!
