SINFONET GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2026: INNOVATION, SYNERGY, AND THE FUTURE OF THE METALWORKING SECTOR

The General Assembly of the SINFONET Network was held in the bright setting of Room 8 at the University of Padua's educational complex (Vicenza Campus). The event served as a true hub for cross-collaboration among SMEs, Startups, Universities, and Research Centers. It was an intense, content-rich, and future-oriented afternoon, during which we outlined the strategic guidelines for the growth of our ecosystem.

The Annual Assembly and other Network meetings represent unique opportunities to share needs and new ideas for innovation. For this reason, we warmly invite you to actively participate in all our initiatives. Our relationships with Universities and Research Centers are now well-established, allowing us to guarantee a fast and meaningful response to develop any of your ideas. Therefore, it is essential to follow our training programs and offered services, and, above all, to leverage collaboration between companies to create real supply chain synergies.

A special thank you goes to the speakers who shared their expertise and vision, making the afternoon full of fundamental insights:

• Nicola Gramegna (President of the SINFONET Network)
• Franco Bonollo (Scientific Coordinator of the Network)
• Marco Franzoni (Training Development)
• Simone Zanelli (Opigeo Srl)
• Monica Favaro (National Research Council - CNR)
• Pietro Arnaboldi (Fonderia Corrà S.p.A.)
• Moreno Zuin (President of Metalmeccanici Confimi Industria Padova-Rovigo)

KEY THEMES:

• Updates: News from the SINFONET network, upcoming events, and the evolution of the technological trajectories of the Veneto S3 (Smart Specialisation Strategy).
• Projects, Results, and New Funding Opportunities: The multi-RIR STILLMETALEVO project, future calls for tenders, and the importance of training as a leverage for corporate growth.
• Networking and Collaborations: Insights and projects from the CNR, an analysis of the future of cast iron amidst geopolitical tensions and new global dynamics, and an open discussion on the outlook of the metalworking sector.

THE SPEECHES:

A. SINFONET NETWORK ACTIVITIES

- Introduction and Updates on Network Activities

This session featured speeches by Network President Nicola Gramegna and Scientific Coordinator Franco Bonollo. They presented an overview of the network's activities, illustrating new events and projects, alongside a special focus celebrating 10 years of the SINFONET network (2016 - 2026).

- Technological Observatory: Current Status and Evolution of S3 Trajectories and Technologies

The technical-scientific analysis of the regional Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) trajectories was managed by Franco Bonollo, enriched by a highly practical contribution from Paweł Malinowski (Smart Foundry).

B. PROJECTS AND FUNDING

- Projects, Project Ideas, and New Funding Opportunities  — Nicola Gramegna 

This presentation clearly highlighted how crucial our members' input is to SINFONET. Our organization is constantly working for you: we are here to support you, foster connections and collaborations between companies, assist with administrative management, and guide you toward the most strategic funding calls.

Today, various funding instruments are available to support your development projects. The trajectories and scopes outlined in the different calls perfectly capture the real innovation needs of the sector, generating positive and measurable impacts directly within companies.

The presentation also covered:

• International Calls: Special emphasis was placed on the HORIZON-CL4-2027-01 call (with submissions open from September 22, 2026, to February 2, 2027). Please remember that you should not wait for the official opening to take action: acting early is vital to building a winning proposal.
• Regional Calls: A focus on upcoming and under-evaluation proposals, with particular attention to strategic projects such as ROBOFOND and CONFORME.

Do not hesitate to contact us to build new project proposals together!

- Training that Makes Businesses Grow: Incentives, Funds, and Opportunities — Marco Franzoni

The core of this speech centered on human capital: companies are made of people, and to make a business thrive, you must invest in training. There is no innovation without skills. Timing is everything here too: taking early action allows companies to seize the best funding channels available for workforce upskilling.

- STILLMETALEVO - Zanelli Simone

C. NETWORKING AND COLLABORATIONS

- CNR: Experiences, Projects, and Collaborations for SINFONET Members — Monica Favaro

The CNR (National Research Council) works across all scientific disciplines. Padua is home to 8 research institutes, a scientific-technological park, and the "Torre della Ricerca" (Research Tower). The CNR actively connects with the local business fabric, also thanks to networks like SINFONET.

In September, SINFONET members will have the exclusive opportunity to participate in a guided tour of the CNR center in Padua.

- The Future of Cast Iron Amidst Geopolitical Tensions and New Market Dynamics — Pietro Arnaboldi

An important focus session by Fonderia Corrà S.p.A.—which celebrates 80 years of business this year—centered on process efficiency and the strategic importance of data quality.

- Debate and Outlook for the Metalworking Sector — Moreno Zuin

A speech focused on hands-on field experience from Modelleria Zuin, a family-run business founded in 1985 and now an Italian excellence in foundry design. The discussion centered on continuous shifts and the evolving dynamics of the sector.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE TOGETHER

An event like this is not just an opportunity for technical updates, but also an essential space for networking, building relationships, and opening up to new commercial and technological avenues. You, our members, are the heartbeat of everything we do: through your active participation, we can map the real needs of our territory and transform them into concrete opportunities.

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Do you have a project idea to develop? Contact us: segreteria@consorziospring.org