ITEMA laboratories are located in the cities Karditsa and Volos. ITEMA has three major research directions related to the fields of:
• Sustainable agriculture production
• Wood & Furniture Design and Technology
• Health and safety of food and animal
and it is organized in six research laboratories:
I. Agriculture Engineering and Environment
II. Wood & Furniture Technology
III. Safety-Hygiene of Foods and Drinks
IV. Integrated and Organic Crop Production
V. Animal’s Drug Development
VI. Agro-informatics
The Institute is primarily an extension of related research activities and laboratory facilities of the departments of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Computer & Communication Engineering, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering of the University of Thessaly and relative Labs of the Technological Institute of Larisa. The laboratory equipment is located either at the space of ITEMA both in Karditsa and in Volos or, temporarily, in host laboratories of the University of Thessaly in the context of a “Memorandum of Understanding” (MoU) CERETETH has signed with the University of Thessaly.
It should be noted that the 3 first labs (I-III) are already well equipped, running EU and national projects and offer services to relevant stakeholders whereas the last 3 labs (IV-VI) are under construction.
ITEMA is managed by its Director, Dr. Constantinos Kittas, Professor of the Agricultural Constructions and Environmental Control of the Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment of the University of Thessaly
ITEMA has one researcher (level C) who works full-time, three full time post doc fellow researchers and more than 25 faculty members from relevant departments of the University of Thessaly and the Technological Institute of Larisa.
The Karditsa laboratories of ITEMA study drug discovery of development, animal husbandry including nutrition and well-being, animal products-production techniques and food traceability and timber technology. The Volos laboratories of ITEMA address research issues related to integrated

Objectives
The specific objectives of ITEMA the last 3 years may be summarized as follows
• Maintenance of the good internal and international position held by the Institution (basically the members of the Institute) in the fields of agriculture engineering and timber and wood technology
This relies on:
o Infrastrures: ITEMA as CERETETH is a very new Institute, basically under construction. Acquired the necessary equipment and finishing the renovation of the selected buildings is of paramount importance for its viability.
o Support of Excellence: Supporting scientific excellence in terms of projects and personnel is a priority of the Institute.
o Networking: Fostering and sustaining international networking
• To contribution to the competitiveness of development providers of Thessaly/ Central Greece
This relies on:
o Technology transfer to relevant SMEs as a results of research actions
o Helping SMEs to identify and solve crucial problems in the production chain using innovation
• Development of high quality job positions
o Attracting high quality staff. The possibility of attracting new scientists helping the institute to boost its efforts. Activation and retention of local researchers
o Collaborations: Develop synergies between the teams of CERETETH and other research teams from UTH and TEI Larisas for more efficient exploitation of available resources and infrastructure
To contribute to the development of the Region of Thessaly and Central Greece
o Educational/ Consulting support
o Infrastructure for pilot tests and pilot experimental farms
o Environmental checks
o Social cohesion programs