Once again, I have the honor of presenting the activity report of the Technological Centre of Furniture and Wood (CETEM) for the year 2024, reaching three decades of existence.. This document reflects, with concrete data and facts, the intense work carried out by our center in supporting companies in the sector, promoting innovation, sustainability, digitalization, and specialized training as fundamental pillars of our activity.
The past year has been marked by significant progress and challenges. CETEM has continued to consolidate its role as a key player in the technological development of the furniture and wood sector, both regionally, nationally, and internationally. Moreover, we have also extended our activities to other sectors, as we have been doing for many years, given the transversal nature of our work. Thanks to the commitment of our team, composed of highly qualified professionals, we have successfully executed more than 60 R&D&I projects in collaboration with companies, universities, and European research centers, strengthening our position in knowledge networks and technology transfer.
We have also intensified our efforts in strategic areas such as the circular economy, digitalization of processes and products, automation and robotization of processes, more efficient rapid prototyping, and highly advanced sensor technology and electronics. Our laboratories and experimentation spaces have served dozens of companies that have found in CETEM a reliable partner to improve their competitiveness and adapt to new market challenges.
The training and qualification of human capital continue to be one of our top priorities. In 2024, we have delivered more than 2,000 hours of specialized training aimed at sector professionals, young job seekers, and technical staff from companies.
This educational work is essential to ensure the constant evolution of the productive sector.
All these achievements would not have been possible without the active collaboration of the business sector, public administrations, universities, and research centers. I would like to extend my gratitude to all of them for their trust, commitment, and shared vision.
However, the achievements of 2024 also highlight an unavoidable reality: the urgent need to expand our facilities. The growing demand for technological services, the execution of larger-scale projects, and the incorporation of new equipment and laboratories have pushed our current infrastructure to the limit of its capacity. The expansion of the center is not only necessary to meet current growth but is also vital to ensure our ability to continue leading business transformation in the coming years.
At CETEM, we are actively working to make this expansion a reality as soon as possible. It is a project for the future, but also a present necessity. Having facilities that match our capabilities and aspirations will allow us to further strengthen our contribution to the economic, social, and technological development of the Region of Murcia.
Thank you to everyone who makes the CETEM project possible. We continue to move forward with enthusiasm, commitment, and a strong sense of service.