About the Conference

Where manufacturing, education and Industry 5.0 converge.

The 1st VLF4EU Conference will take place in Milan from 13 to 15 October 2026, in parallel with 35.BI-MU, one of Europe’s leading exhibitions for machine tools, robotics, automation, digital manufacturing and enabling technologies.
Organised within the framework of the VLF4EU – Virtual Learning Factory for Europe project, the conference will bring together VET and HVET teachers, trainers, managers, companies, technology providers, clusters and policy stakeholders working on the future of advanced manufacturing skills.
The conference is conceived as a practice-oriented meeting point for organisations interested in designing, implementing and scaling Virtual Learning Factories. Its main focus will be on how VET and HVET centres are using physical, virtual and hybrid learning factories to transform teaching and learning, support the twin digital and green transition, and prepare learners for the skills required by Industry 5.0.


Across three days, participants will be invited to share practical experiences, learning scenarios, implementation approaches, demonstrations, challenges and lessons learned. The programme will prioritise teacher practice talks, VLF showcases, live demonstrations, hands-on workshops, implementation clinics and student/trainer experiences, creating a space where VET and HVET organisations can learn from each other and identify opportunities for European cooperation.
Rather than following a traditional academic conference format, the event will place teachers, trainers and VET/HVET organisations at the centre. Researchers, universities and applied pedagogy experts will contribute mainly as workshop facilitators, mentors and methodological supporters, helping participants design, evaluate, improve and transfer Virtual Learning Factory approaches in real education and training contexts.

The conference will address eight thematic areas:

  • Virtual Learning Factories: Models, Architectures and Pedagogy
  • Industry 5.0 and the Human-Centric Factory
  • Digital Twins for Manufacturing Education
  • Immersive Technologies: VR, AR and XR in VET
  • Artificial Intelligence and Data-Driven Learning
  • Green Skills and Sustainable Manufacturing
  • VET–Industry Collaboration and SME Upskilling
  • Open Innovation, Micro-credentials and Career Pathways:
    The 1st VLF4EU Conference aims to become a European space for sharing practical knowledge, strengthening VET–industry cooperation and supporting the development of next-generation learning fact
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