The CERET project (Centres for Technological Experimentation and Renewal) is a technological innovation and transfer project in which four key processes are identified:

• Technology acquisition
• Educational assimilation and development of technology
• Dissemination of technology
• Evaluation of technology

A CERET school or CERET Centre is one which is at the forefront in a specific technology or which has the sufficient conditions to be able to develop it. It is also available to offer advice to other schools which provide training in the same technological field and to enterprises in areas of employee retraining. Consequently, a CERET Centre shares its know-how with others and adopts a pro-active stance in conveying its expertise and developments to others.

The two fundamental reasons driving the project are to rationalise resources and socialise know-how. This way, it aims to:

• avoid duplicating individual work in the same technological field or area
• allow schools to benefit from development in other schools
• improve the service provided by schools to businesses.