The Furniture and Wood Technology Centre of the Region of Murcia, CETEM, is a private non-profit association located in Yecla, Spain, one of the most important furniture manufacturing clusters in the country. Since its establishment in 1995, CETEM has worked as a key technological and innovation partner for companies in the furniture, wood and related sectors, supporting their competitiveness through applied research, technological development, testing, training and knowledge transfer.
CETEM was created to serve as an external support infrastructure for SMEs and industrial companies, helping them integrate innovation into their products, processes and business models. Over the years, the centre has become a reference organisation for the regional and national furniture sector, promoting research and development activities in areas such as digitalisation, sustainability, circular economy, advanced materials, design, ergonomics, smart products and new manufacturing technologies.
A central part of CETEM’s mission is to bridge the gap between research and industry. The centre works closely with companies, public institutions, universities, technology providers and European partners to transform technological knowledge into practical solutions with real impact. Through its laboratories, technical expertise and project experience, CETEM supports companies in improving product quality, developing new materials and processes, adopting digital tools and responding to the environmental and social challenges faced by the sector.
CETEM is also actively involved in national and European collaborative projects, contributing its experience in innovation management, technology transfer, industrial transformation and training. Its participation in European initiatives reinforces its international dimension and allows the centre to exchange knowledge with partners from different countries, sectors and disciplines. This collaborative approach is especially relevant in projects linked to digital skills, artificial intelligence, responsible innovation and sustainable industrial development.