How EFSI benefits SMEs in Europe - BPER case study: CEA Estintori S.p.a. (Italy), Fire safety and security equipment

CEA Estintori is a company specialised in the production of fire safety and security equipment, and offers a full range of services related to safety systems and fire-fighting. The company integrates in its work all phases of research, development, design and production.

CEA Estintori’s main project, CEACOM, combines the technology to extinguish fire with specific software and hardware meant to constantly monitor fire-fighting and anti-explosion systems, thus better guaranteeing its users’ safety. Furthermore, the fire extinguishing system is more powerful than an ordinary extinguisher, which enhances CEACOM’s general efficiency in emergency situations.

Developing this project was achieved through an EU-guaranteed loan provided by the Italian banking group BPER and backed by EIF under the Investment Plan for Europe. This EU initiative, aiming at generating new investments by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, directly supported CEA Estintori’s innovative project by financing its research and development phase. The project was realized in partnership with Professor Massimo Rudan from the DEI – University of Bologna and coordinated and officially represented by Mr. Faedi Fabrizio, an expert in innovation and research & development projects.

Thanks to the EU’s support, the company was able to hire 7 additional employees between 2015 and 2016, bringing the total number of employees to 121. In the future, CEA Estintori intends to extend and develop the functionalities of CEACOM and to introduce it to new markets. The plan is also to further support the research & development department through the recruitment of new staff and the conclusion of new partnerships with research institutes and universities.

Company: CEA Estintori S.p.a. (Italy)

Type of business: Fire safety and security equipment

EIF financing: InnovFin SMEG, EFSI

For further information about EIF intermediaries in Italy, please refer to: http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/where/it