CETMA is a Research and Technology Organization (RTO) that operates at the intersection of science, technology, and industry. Its mission is twofold: to generate new knowledge through research, and to translate that knowledge into practical technological solutions for companies and public institutions.
Established in 1994, CETMA was founded under a joint agreement between ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) and the Italian Ministry of University and Scientific and Technological Research (MURST), with the aim of promoting industrial innovation and technological development, particularly in Southern Italy.
CETMA is a stable consortium with external activities, in which ENEA holds the majority share (50%). Other public and private members include the University of Salento (5%) and leading industrial and consulting companies such as RINA Consulting S.p.A., Lattanzio KIBS S.p.A. Benefit Corporation, Digimat S.p.A., Sysman Progetti & Servizi S.r.l., Axist S.r.l., G.M.T. S.p.A., G.M.T. Sud S.r.l., and ASA S.r.l. (part of Confindustria’s industrial federations). The consortium remains open to new partnerships, reflecting its collaborative and innovation-driven approach.
As a non-profit organization, CETMA reinvests all revenues into research, training, and dissemination activities. The centre is registered as a qualified research laboratory with the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MIUR) under Decree D.M. 593/2000, and meets all the requirements of a recognized research entity under EU regulations.
Over the years, CETMA has developed high-level expertise in three main domains:
- Materials and Advanced Composites Engineering
- Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
- Industrial Design and User Experience
By combining these disciplines, CETMA acts as a multidisciplinary innovation hub, providing integrated research and development services for product, process, and service innovation. Its mission is to support the sustainable growth and competitiveness of the national production system, strengthening the connection between scientific research and industrial application.
CETMA collaborates with public bodies, universities, research institutions, and private companies of all sizes, operating as a bridge between research and market. Through its work, it contributes to building a more innovative, digital, and sustainable industrial ecosystem in Italy and across Europe.