As the first Brazilian ever nominated in the history of the award, the CEO of Fornari Indústria and PlanET Biogás Brasil ranks among the Top 4 finalists and will be honoured in April during Hannover Messe, one of the world’s largest industrial technology trade fairs
SANTA CATARINA – The innovation capacity of Brazilian agribusiness is gaining global recognition through a historic milestone: the nomination of Santa Catarina-based entrepreneur Luciane Fornari among the Top 4 finalists for the Engineer Woman Award 2026. This marks the first time a Brazilian has been nominated for the award. The ceremony will take place on 23 April during the FEMWORX career congress, part of the Hannover Messe programme in Germany – one of the largest and most important industrial technology trade fairs worldwide. This international recognition crowns a trajectory of more than two decades defined by courage, resilience and pioneering work in the development of biosafety technologies for agriculture and renewable energy solutions.
“Being among the Top 4 of the Engineer Woman Award is, for me, equivalent to being nominated for the Oscars in our sector,” highlights Luciane. “This is not an individual achievement. It reflects the talent and tireless dedication of our entire team, the trust of our business partners and, in a very special way, the strategic support of ApexBrasil, which has been a key compass in positioning Brazilian innovation on the global stage. Together, we demonstrate that Brazil delivers cutting-edge technology to the world.”
The significance of international recognition
Being among the finalists of such a prestigious award goes beyond personal achievement. Luciane’s presence at the European event reinforces the production excellence of Western Santa Catarina, a recognised hub of Brazilian agribusiness, while drawing the attention of global investors to technological solutions developed in Brazil.
The award, which recognises professionals with outstanding contributions in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), will include a tribute speech delivered by Dr Kathrin Rüschenschmidt, member of the congress advisory board, and will grant the Brazilian executive a place of honour in Hall 2 of the event.
An additional inspiring aspect of this nomination is that the award criteria recognise women actively working in the technology and industrial sectors, without requiring a formal degree in engineering.
From a sanitary crisis to a technology leader
The journey leading to this recognition in Germany began with a practical need to solve critical challenges and protect the agribusiness sector. In 2006, during the global avian influenza outbreak, Luciane identified the urgency of protecting Brazilian rural operations. With a strong entrepreneurial mindset, she designed and developed a truck disinfection system for farm entry points—the disinfection arch.
From this solution, originally created to mitigate a global sanitary crisis, Fornari Indústria was founded in Concórdia. Today, with more than 15 years of expertise, the company is a leading reference in machinery and equipment for the egg production industry, ensuring high levels of automation and biosecurity.
Driven by continuous innovation, the company expanded beyond national borders, exporting advanced technology to multiple countries worldwide. A key milestone in this global expansion was the partnership with the Danish multinational Sanovo Technology Group, focused on equipment for the egg and hatchery industry. This innovative DNA had already been recognised through highly prestigious awards in Brazil, including the Gold Trophy at the Gerdau “Melhores da Terra” Award in 2010, as well as top honours from the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) and SEBRAE in 2016 and 2017.
Multiple leadership roles and international expansion
The company’s global consolidation reflects the dynamic vision of its founder, who has built an impressive career marked by diverse leadership roles. Luciane currently serves as CEO of Fornari Indústria and plays a prominent role in the renewable energy sector as co-founder and CEO of PlanET Biogás Brasil—the Brazilian subsidiary of the German group recognised for developing sustainable energy solutions, including biogas plants and biofuels.
In addition, she is a board member of the Brazilian Association for Energy Recovery from Waste (ABREN), based in Brasília. With the advancement of international cooperation, she has also assumed the role of Vice-President of the Board of Trustees of Enterprise Europe Network Brazil (EEN/Brasil) for the 2025–2029 term. Her strong engagement further includes active participation in several agribusiness organisations and committees.
Her leadership journey is supported by a multifaceted professional background rooted in strong technical training. During secondary education, she qualified as an Electrical Installations Technician at Colégio Olavo Rigon. She began her professional career at the age of 14, working for nearly a decade in rural producer development at Sadia (now BRF). She later graduated in Physical Education, working as a dance instructor, before taking on administrative responsibilities in her family’s pioneering heavy vehicle workshop.
Resilience and the promotion of female entrepreneurship
Her business success is only one aspect of her resilience. In 2011, at the peak of her company’s expansion, Luciane faced and overcame breast cancer. This experience transformed her worldview, strengthening her empathy and leadership approach.
Recognising that the challenges faced by women in leadership are widely shared, she embraced the mission of motivating and empowering other women in entrepreneurship, becoming an active voice in promoting a more inclusive business environment. In 2021, her regional and community impact was recognised with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from ACIC Concórdia.
Leadership at Hannover Messe and ApexBrasil’s support
One of the key pillars supporting this international achievement is Luciane’s role as a mentor in the “Elas Exportam” initiative, implemented by ApexBrasil in partnership with the Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade (MDIC). This initiative is part of ApexBrasil’s Women and International Business programme, in which the entrepreneur is also actively involved.
The programme was responsible for leading a delegation of female entrepreneurs and leaders at Hannover Messe, as well as coordinating the promotion of the FEMWORX award to support the nomination of Brazilian scientists and leaders.
This strategic effort is carried out under the leadership of ApexBrasil’s Business Director, Ana Repezza, who highlights the importance of this milestone:
“During the trade fair, in addition to participating in the FEMWORX programme, members of the female delegation—including Luciane—will also take the stage at the Brazil Pavilion to address topics related to industrial technologies, alternative energy, artificial intelligence and deep tech. Brazil is the partner country of Hannover Messe, which makes Luciane’s nomination—the first Brazilian in the history of the award—particularly significant for the international promotion of women-led Brazilian companies.”
The strength of partnerships and women’s support networks
For Luciane, international expansion and recognition through such a prestigious German award are the result of a journey built on strong partnerships. She attributes this achievement especially to the Brazilian Institute of Information in Science and Technology (Ibict) and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN).
Through the EEN platform, particularly within the Low Carbon programme, she accelerated her development and established connections with global partners such as the multinational Sanovo and the German company PlanET Biogás.
In addition to innovation and development institutions, she also highlights organisations dedicated to empowering women in business. As an ambassador of the Women Entrepreneurs Network (RME), led by Ana Fontes, and an active member of the Mulheres do Brasil group, her engagement – combined with initiatives from ApexBrasil and the Brazilian Organisation of Women Entrepreneurs (OBME), led by Lilian Schiavo – forms a strong foundation of mutual support.
A legacy grounded in family
While building technologies for agribusiness and strengthening connections between Brazil and global markets, Luciane remains deeply rooted in her family. It is through her daily life with her husband Roberto and children Ana Paula, Júlia and Luiz that she finds the energy to continue expanding boundaries.
When she takes the stage at Hannover Messe, Luciane Fornari will not only represent Brazilian engineering and advanced technology, but also carry the legacy of a woman who transformed challenges into solutions with global impact.
