FUNDACION PARA LA PROMOCION DE LA INNOVACION INVESTIGACION Y DESARROLLO TECNOLOGICO EN LA INDUSTRIA DE AUTOMOCION DE GALICIA

Their core work

CTAG is the automotive technology centre of Galicia, Spain, focused on applied R&D for the car industry — from advanced materials and lightweight structures to connected and automated driving systems. They develop and test vehicle components, composite manufacturing processes, and intelligent transport solutions for OEMs and tier suppliers. Their work spans the full vehicle lifecycle: thermal comfort systems, eco-design for electric vehicles, 5G-connected mobility, and end-of-life recycling of automotive materials. They also operate testing infrastructure for connected and automated driving pilots across European corridors.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), CTAG concentrated on vehicle component R&D — thermal comfort for EVs, composite manufacturing, robotic sealing, and early-stage ADAS sensing — working largely as a materials and testing partner. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward two areas: connected automated mobility at scale (5G corridors, cross-border piloting via 5G-MOBIX and Hi-Drive) and circular economy for automotive materials (DECOAT's debonding-on-demand, ALMA's eco-design). Their most recent coordination role (ALMA, 2021) confirms the pivot toward sustainable lightweight materials for electric vehicles.

CTAG is converging on the intersection of electric vehicle design and sustainability — expect future work in recyclable lightweight structures, battery-vehicle integration, and 5G-enabled autonomous driving deployment.

How they like to work

CTAG overwhelmingly operates as a consortium partner (18 of 20 projects), contributing specialized automotive testing and materials expertise rather than leading projects. With 396 unique partners across 30 countries, they maintain a very broad European network rather than relying on a small circle of repeat collaborators. Their two coordinator roles (FORTAPE and ALMA) are both in advanced materials — suggesting they lead when the topic sits squarely in their core manufacturing competence, but prefer to join larger consortia for connected mobility and digital topics.

Exceptionally wide network of 396 partners across 30 countries, making them one of the more broadly connected automotive R&D centres in H2020. Their partnerships span Western Europe's automotive corridors, with strong links to Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

What sets them apart

CTAG bridges the gap between automotive manufacturing R&D and connected mobility testing — a combination few regional technology centres can offer. Their dual strength in advanced composite materials and 5G-connected driving infrastructure means they can support partners from material design through to on-road vehicle validation. For consortium builders, they bring real testing facilities in Spain's automotive cluster (Galicia), a proven track record across 20 H2020 projects, and the flexibility to contribute as a hands-on technical partner without competing for project leadership.

Highlights from their portfolio

• 5G-MOBIX
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 864,875) — a flagship 5G cross-border connected driving project that positioned CTAG in Europe's top-tier automated mobility testing network.
• ALMA
  Most recent coordinator role (2021), combining lightweight materials, eco-design, and electric vehicles — represents CTAG's strategic direction toward sustainable automotive engineering.
• DECOAT
  Marks CTAG's entry into circular economy with debonding-on-demand technology for recycling coated automotive plastics and textiles — an unusual and forward-looking capability for a vehicle R&D centre.