CESTEC S.p.A. – Centre for Technological Development, Energy and Competitiveness of Lombard SMEs

Cestec is the Regional Centre for the Technological Development, Energy and Competitiveness of SMEs. Lombardy Region, that since March 2006 controls Cestec through a 100% share, founded it through a Regional Law in 1979.

As operative Agency of the Regional Government and “public equivalent body”, CESTEC acts with the aim of managing regional innovation programmes and of promoting shared strategies in favour of the economic and industrial environment to sustain its competitiveness and sustainable development. Within these targets, CESTEC operates to disseminate technological progress, to offer organizational assistance connected to innovation and to promote the Lombard productive system at a local, national and international level.

CESTEC focuses on six operational Units:

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY:

• promotion of environmentally friendly innovation among SMEs, paying great attention to all those aspects dealing with the management, organization and technology of companies;
• support to Lombard SMEs for the correct management of environmental topics, such as those related to production and for the correct interpretation of “green” laws.

ENERGY PLANNING:

• technical support to Lombardy Region in defining and implementing of energy policies (Energy Action Plan, Energy and Environmental Information System “SIRENA”, Regional Climate Plan towards the 20-20-20 Directive);
• support to the regional actions, through specific initiatives that aim at the diffusion of alternative energies and the reduction of primary energy consumption, e.g. call for founding for RES projects and District Heating Systems.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN BUILDING

• development and management of the Regional Building Energy Efficiency Certification;
• development and management of the Regional Boiler Energy Efficiency Register.

INTERNATIONALIZATION:

• support to Lombard SMEs for the participation in European Projects;
• promotion of transnational technology transfer from Lombard SMEs towards foreign economic realities.

TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION:

• promotion of a ‘Culture of Innovation’ among SMEs, embracing a wide range of aspects: organization, entrepreneurship, research results’ exploitation, technological transfer and adoption of new technologies, environmental sustainability, diffusion of new ICT instruments;
• supports the diffusion of the ‘Regional Excellences’ such as innovative sectors, technological cluster and local industrial districts.

COMMUNICATION & PROMOTION:

• market and business analysis, guidelines and assistance to access appropriate public funding.