Expo+Indústria 2026, a multisectoral fair promoted by the Federation of Industries of the State of Paraná (Fiep), brings together technologies, services and solutions to increase competitiveness in the productive sector. In this sense, actions aimed at developing talent gain prominence. At the IEL Paraná stand, Fiep's employability arm, visitors will find ways to bring academia closer to the job market, as well as programs focused on behavioral skills (soft skills). Anyone who passes by will be able to see three practical highlights. The first of these is a digital totem that offers a quick diagnosis: in just five minutes, business owners and professionals identify efficiency challenges and receive personalized strategic guidance. Furthermore, the stand promotes the official presentation of the new internship module integrated into the Emprega Indústria platform, with real-time simulations of its functionalities. Completing the attractions is an exclusive area dedicated to presenting IEL Award projects focused on productivity gains - the central theme of the fair. Research results Presence at the event also demonstrates how the inclusion of masters and doctors generates financial and operational returns for the business. An example of this connection is the work of researcher Denise Souza, from Grupo Boticário, winner of the Innovative Project category of the IEL 2025 Award at a regional level. She structured a digital platform that organizes complex scientific data, which speeds up the R&D team's decision-making. The project follows the conclusions of the 2026 Employability Trends Report, published by IEL Paraná with the Fiep System Observatory. The study indicates that digitalization and the use of analytical intelligence require professionals with high technical capacity to translate data into market strategies. Through programs such as Talento Inovação and Inova Talentos, the entity forms a direct bridge between researchers and industry. Fiep's employability arm, IEL Paraná highlights the inclusion of researchers in the productive sector at Expo+Indústria 2026. Gelson Bampi/Sistema Fiep. IEL 2026 Award The program also reserves space for talent recognition. On August 26th, the winners of the state phase of the IEL 2026 Award will be revealed. Paraná achieved unprecedented prominence in this edition with 123 registered projects, a mark that represents the second largest volume of applications in all of Brazil. The award recognizes the work of interns, apprentices, companies and educational institutions that transform academic theory into practical improvements for organizations.