48th AIM Conference in Málaga: First Results from the European Observatory Survey
September 10–13, 2026 – Málaga, Spain
From 10 to 13 September 2026, the 48th AIM Conference – “Industrial Management Challenges in the Society 5.0” took place in Málaga, Spain, bringing together academics, researchers and industry professionals from across Europe to discuss the future of Industrial Engineering and Management.
From 10 to 13 September 2026, the 48th AIM Conference – “Industrial Management Challenges in the Society 5.0” took place in Málaga, Spain, bringing together academics, researchers and industry professionals from across Europe to discuss the future of Industrial Engineering and Management.
Foundation ESIEM was represented by its President, Prof. Giovanni Mummolo, who presented a contribution introducing the Foundation to the European Academy for Industrial Management (AIM) and sharing the first results of the Survey on Gap and Needs Analysis in IE&M Higher Education, promoted by the Foundation’s European Observatory.
The survey aims to map companies’ knowledge needs and identify the skill gaps between industry requirements and the competencies currently provided by European master’s programmes in IE&M. The analysis was conducted through a structured questionnaire involving both academic and industrial stakeholders. Academic networks consulted included AIM, ESTIEM, AIDI (Italian Association of Industrial Plant Engineering) and Adingor. On the industry side, participation was supported through collaborations with Madrid Network, Confindustria Bari-BAT, MetApprendo (Federmeccanica) and MedITech.
The preliminary findings confirm a significant and consistent gap between what European companies require and what current academic programmes offer — particularly in areas such as AI and digital skills, cybersecurity, applied prompt engineering and corporate data governance. The survey results will inform the Foundation’s Call for Projects and the ongoing development of the IE&M Body of Knowledge.
The AIM Conference also marked a significant personal milestone: Prof. Mummolo received a recognition award from AIM in appreciation of his service at the conclusion of his term as President of the Association — a role he held while simultaneously founding and leading Foundation ESIEM.
The European Observatory survey is open and accessible here!
