Hannover Messe 2026: OpportunItaly promotes Italian mechanical engineering in Germany
Italy was represented by 70 companies, including 13 in the ITA – Italian Trade Agency pavilion, confirming the importance of the German market for the country, with exports exceeding €72 billion in 2025.
From April 20 to 24, Italian technology was on display in Germany at Hannover Messe 2026, the world’s leading trade fair for industrial technologies. This edition brought together companies, institutions, and international operators across the entire industrial value chain, creating an operational environment where participants presented solutions and exchanged views on the latest innovations.
Hannover Messe is the second strategic event in Germany selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) as part of the OpportunItaly communication campaign, which was given appropriate visibility through the setup of a dedicated corner inside the institutional ITA stand, presenting both the digital matchmaking platform and the Buyers’ Club. The acceleration programme aims to create relationships through dedicated tools, facilitating meetings between Italian companies and international operators and strengthening dialogue with foreign markets.
From AI to precision engineering: Made in Italy at Hannover Messe
Italy’s presence at Hannover Messe 2026 was developed through coordinated participation. ITA – Italian Trade Agencyorganised a collective stand in Hall 17, hosting 13 Italian SMEs active in industrial subcontracting.
The companies presented solutions across various production areas, showcasing the variety and innovative capacity of Italian industry, and covering a broad spectrum of key sectors such as mechanical engineering, hydraulics, industrial filtration, precision metalworking, electronics, and aerospace technologies, as well as applications linked to artificial intelligence, extended reality, and digital platforms.
Italy-Germany: a €157.8 billion trade partnership
Made in Italy products enjoy great success in Germany. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached €157.8 billion, according to ITA/ISTAT data. More specifically, Italian exports grew to €72.2 billion, marking a 2.4% increase compared to 2024.
To strengthen relations between the two markets, the “GERMAN-ITALIAN INNOVATION TALK” was held on April 21 in collaboration between ITA and the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Germany (ITKAM). The event was dedicated to bilateral cooperation for a sustainable economy and also featured the participation of the Consul General of Italy in Hannover, Piero Vaira.
As highlighted by Ferdinando Fiore, Director of the ITA – Italian Trade Agency office in Berlin, Germany maintained its role as Italy’s leading trade partner, both as the main destination for Italian exports and as its top supplier.
This positioning is based on a manufacturing structure characterised by specialised small and medium-sized enterprises, alongside larger, highly productive companies. This combination has supported the Italian industrial system’s ability to operate in high-tech sectors such as automation, industrial subcontracting, and digital technologies.
Thanks to its solidity, collaboration between the Italian and German supply chains has supported European industrial competitiveness. Hannover Messe therefore represented an opportunity for these relationships, offering companies a context in which to further develop existing ties.
OpportunItaly alongside Made in Italy in Germany
To foster commercial agreements and new partnerships, during Hannover Messe 2026 the dedicated OpportunItaly team presented several tools to all the key players in attendance, including the Buyers’ Club, the service designed for foreign buyers, importers, and distributors, aimed at encouraging the development of business connections with the leading players of Made in Italy excellence.
Through this programme, international companies can connect with the key figures of Italian quality and style, expanding their network of relationships and growth opportunities thanks to the know-how of highly qualified artisans and professionals. Join OpportunItaly to discover all the benefits of the programme and the Buyers’ Club.
In summary
13 Italian SMEs took part in the ITA collective stand in Hall 17, stand A26.
The companies presented solutions across mechanical engineering, electronics, aerospace, AI, and XR.
OpportunItaly introduced matchmaking tools and the Buyers’ Club.
The German-Italian Innovation Talk encouraged dialogue between Italian and German companies.
As reported by ITA/ISTAT, in 2025 Italy-Germany trade reached €157.8 billion.
Sources:
ITA
FAQ