World Manufacturing Forum 2026

World Manufacturing Forum

“Navigating the Future of Manufacturing: Trends Compass & Technology Radars”

22-23 October 2026

Global manufacturing is entering a period of unprecedented transformation driven by technological innovation, sustainability imperatives, workforce evolution, changing consumer expectations, and shifting geopolitical and economic conditions. As the pace of change accelerates, manufacturers face increasing challenges in identifying emerging trends and technologies that will have the greatest impact on their unique operations, business models, and long-term competitiveness. Navigating these complexities requires structured approaches that support strategic foresight, informed decision-making, and proactive adaptation.

The 2026 World Manufacturing Forum, in its fourteenth edition, will again bring together leading international policy experts, strong industrial leaders, excellent academic researchers, and brilliant technological innovators to play a critical role in supporting the global manufacturing community in navigating emerging trends and technological opportunities. As in previous years, the forum will provide a vital and neutral platform for foresight, dialogues, knowledge exchange, and collaboration, while identifying strategic priorities and accelerating technology adoption and workforce development for a competitive, resilient, sustainable, and human-centred manufacturing future.

The 2026 World Manufacturing report titled “Navigating the Future of Manufacturing: Trends Compass & Technology Radars” will present a trends compass and a set of technology radars that have been designed to help industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, investors, and technology providers to better understand and respond to the forces shaping the future of manufacturing. The report will examine key global trends across technological, economic, environmental, societal, and regulatory dimensions. It will highlight their implications for sustainable industrial development and competitiveness. Complementing this analysis, the technology radars will provide a systematic assessment of emerging and maturing technologies, evaluating their potential impact, adoption readiness, implementation challenges, and expected time horizons for industrial deployment.

By combining strategic trend analysis with technology intelligence, the 2026 World Manufacturing report will offer a practical decision-support framework for prioritising investments, identifying opportunities, managing uncertainty, and building organisational resilience. Ultimately, the report will aim to support the development of more adaptive, sustainable, innovative, and competitive manufacturing ecosystems around the world and provide their stakeholders with a forward-looking perspective to anticipate change, align strategic priorities, and confidently navigate the opportunities and challenges of the next industrial manufacturing era.

Mr. Diego Andreis
President
World Manufacturing Foundation

Prof. Marco Taisch
Scientific Chairman
World Manufacturing Foundation
marco.taisch@worldmanufacturing.org

Prof. David Romero
Scientific Vice-Chairman
World Manufacturing Foundation
david.romero@worldmanufacturing.org

The World Manufacturing Forum is a prestigious platform where industry leaders, influential policymakers, distinguished academics, and pioneering researchers come together to address the challenges and trends shaping global manufacturing. The event features keynote sessions, panel sessions, and parallel events, all focused on the critical trends transforming the manufacturing landscape and their broader implications.

From exploring the new skills required for the future of manufacturing, to embracing a new era driven by artificial intelligence and intelligent automation, to digitally enabling the emerging circular manufacturing paradigm, to supporting the redesign of supply chains for greater resilience, and innovating new business models for the sector — the World Manufacturing Forum’s reports have consistently outlined significant manufacturing trends. They have provided recommendations to help governments and industries identify and prioritize key actions for sustainable industrial development, fostering a future of economic, social, and environmental prosperity.

Acquire insights from leading experts and discover essential themes and breakthrough strategies to accelerate the transformation of the manufacturing sector.