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Festo at WorldSkills in Shanghai
The demand for qualified professionals in automation, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and sustainable infrastructure is growing worldwide. That is why WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, taking place September 22–27, 2026, will focus precisely on the skills that drive industrial transformation and sustainable development. As a Global Premium Partner, Festo supports six competition disciplines, participates in the WorldSkills Conference, and presents new learning solutions for technical education and training.
“The most effective workforce development occurs where education and industry work hand in hand. WorldSkills is a striking example of this collaboration, bringing together learners, educators, and employers with a shared vision of excellence,” says Elfi Klumpp, Head of Partnership Development, Global Education at Festo Didactic.
Since 1950, young skilled workers from all over the world have been competing in the WorldSkills Competition every two years. There, they test their skills in their respective trades in accordance with the demanding WorldSkills standards. Participants qualify in advance through a national selection process. Over the course of four competition days, teams of young skilled workers develop solutions to highly technical challenges using training systems provided by Festo Didactic. The focus is on technical expertise in fields such as mechatronics, Industry 4.0, water technology, and renewable energy.
WorldSkills Conference
The development of future-oriented skills has become a global priority. At the concurrently held WorldSkills Conference, experts from Festo will participate in discussions on how education, business, and government can collaborate to prepare the next generation of skilled workers. The focus is on topics such as the impact of artificial intelligence on the world of work, the growing demand for green skills, and collaboration among education, business, and government in developing future-proof training programs.
Festo Qualifies for Skills CoLab with Tsinghua University
Skills CoLab is a new format that complements the WorldSkills Conference and is taking place for the first time in Shanghai. WorldSkills issued a global call for applications, inviting partners to submit innovative and sustainable educational concepts. Over 130 applications were received, 30 of which will be presented during a “speed dating” session at the WorldSkills Conference. Festo has proposed a joint project with Tsinghua University. The project vividly presents a model combining Physical AI, digitalization, and artificial intelligence in the field of education.
Festo and WorldSkills
Festo has been supporting WorldSkills since 1991 and is committed to promoting vocational excellence and strengthening technical education and training worldwide. For more information on how Festo supports WorldSkills, visit: https://festo.com/worldskills
Festo Didactic is a leading provider of technical education and further education. Its portfolio includes digital learning tools, hands-on training systems, workforce development programs, and comprehensive curricula in areas such as industrial automation, electrical engineering, industrial maintenance, pneumatics and hydraulics, renewable energy, and Industry 4.0. Festo Didactic supports schools, universities, training centers, research institutions, and industrial companies worldwide. Festo Didactic is part of Festo, an independent, globally oriented family-owned company headquartered in Esslingen am Neckar, Germany. In 2025, approximately 800 Festo Didactic employees working across more than 60 Festo national companies generated sales of approximately EUR 155 million.
