MIBA–Milan International Building Alliance, the event held at Fiera Milano from 19 to 22 November, concluded an edition marked by rising figures and strong content dynamism: 1,369 exhibitors and 85,000 visitors from 112 countries, a 5% increase compared to 2023, confirm the progressive consolidation of the format as a European benchmark platform for professionals in the built environment.
By: Mariagrazia Scoppio, Media Relations, Communication Department, Fiera Milano; E-mail: mariagrazia.scoppio@fieramilano.it
Four events together – MADE expo, SMART BUILDING EXPO, SICUREZZA and GEE – Global Elevator Exhibition – offered an opportunity for updates on technologies, materials, solutions, and regulations for professionals involved in various ways in the evolution of buildings and cities: from the world of construction and architecture to systems engineering and technologies that ensure services, accessibility, and security.
Three themes guided the dialogue among companies, professionals, institutions, and the research community: sustainability, energy and digital transition, and training. These themes not only define the sector’s priorities, but also outline the roadmap for the transformation awaiting our cities and the very way we live in and design spaces.
The debate on sustainability ran across all four events, with particular focus on the tools that can provide tangible support in achieving the European goals set by the green buildings directive.
“The path pursued by MIBA fully embraces the spirit of the New European Bauhaus, the European Commission initiative that calls for rethinking the built environment by combining sustainability, aesthetic quality, and inclusion.” – states Niccolò Aste, Professor of Architecture and Construction Engineering and Built Environment at the Politecnico di Milano – “With the Made Sustainable Prize (SusPrize), we wanted to translate this approach into a concrete experience capable of highlighting projects that demonstrate how innovation can be simultaneously beautiful, responsible, and deeply rooted in the needs of communities. In this context, the awarded excellences clearly show us that today’s trend is towards a conscious aesthetics that sacrifices neither material quality nor social quality. Regenerated living spaces, sustainable materials, architectures with strong community value: all of this is not ‘niche’ but represents a development model that can become mainstream. SusPrize aims to be a beacon: an invitation to anyone with a vision – artisans, start-ups, architects, companies – to dare, experiment, and reimagine the everyday. I believe this is the right direction to build a future in which excellence is not a privilege, but a common good”.
At the same time, the energy and digital transition emerged as a strategic lever for renewing the sector. From integrated design to intelligent energy systems, from digital platforms to new monitoring and management models, MIBA provided a forum for discussion on the solutions reshaping the entire life cycle of the built environment.
“Efficiency, electrification, and digitalization of the building stock are crucial challenges for the country and require addressing issues that have so far been underestimated, such as the inadequacy of electrical systems. In this scenario, MIBA has proven to be not only an exhibition showcase but also a laboratory of ideas capable of fostering innovation, safety, and sustainability. The hope is that the dialogue initiated here becomes the starting point for strengthening what is fundamental for Prosiel: establishing a more robust dialogue among supply chain stakeholders to build a system, sharing a common strategic vision, initiating constructive engagement with institutions, and promoting communication capable of making even non-experts understand the strategic value of this transformation. We must accelerate: safe, digital, and sustainable buildings are not only an environmental choice, but also an economic and social one” – states Roberto Martino, President of Prosiel.
This evolution concerns not only tools but also the design and operational culture of companies and their professionals. For this reason, with a global offering of more than 100 conferences and seminars, MIBA placed great emphasis on professional training, which is considered essential for supporting the sector’s transformation. The ongoing evolution of technologies serving buildings – especially in sensitive sectors such as security – now requires increasingly specialized professional profiles capable of assessing the most suitable technological solutions for each application context.
“To provide an adequate level of security in cultural venues, it is essential to invest in training and foster constant dialogue between security professionals and cultural heritage operators.” – states Carlo Hruby, Vice President of the Enzo Hruby Foundation – “At SICUREZZA, we wanted to reaffirm the value of academic education by presenting the Advanced Training Course in Cultural Security Management, developed with the University of Pavia. This program represents a real breakthrough, establishing for the first time in Italy the formal role of the Cultural Security Manager: a professional trained in the use of the most advanced technologies and their integration, capable of achieving a high level of protection while optimizing the management and enhancement of cultural sites and the assets they house.”
MIBA looks forward to welcoming everyone to the next edition, from 17 to 19 November 2027 at Fiera Milano.
