CIDET

What CIDET does

CIDET (Corporación Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico del Sector Eléctrico) is a Medellín-based, Colombian non-profit corporation founded in 1995 that delivers accredited testing, inspection, certification, consulting, and training services to the Colombian electrical industry. It is recognized by Minciencias as a Centro de Innovación y Productividad and holds multiple accreditations — ONAC (under ISO/IEC 17065:2012, 17020, and 17025:2017), ANAB (ID#0829, ISO/IEC 17065:2012), and IDEAM (resolution 1474 of 2023) — that authorize it to certify products under the RETIE and RETILAP technical regulations, inspect electrical installations, verify commercial borders in the electricity market, and perform accredited laboratory testing across three in-house labs (electromechanical and lighting, calibration, and chemical analysis of dielectric fluids).

The company serves three primary segments: electrical equipment manufacturers requiring RETIE/RETILAP certification to access the Colombian market (Centelsa/Nexans, Procables, Andes Cables, Schneider, Siemens, WEG, Signify, Legrand, TE Connectivity), energy distribution and generation companies needing installation inspection, commercial-border verification, and training (CHEC, CENS, ESSA, EDEQ, Gecelca, ISA Transelca, ENEL, XM, Electro Huila, Cedenar), and industrial and commercial enterprises procuring calibration and testing. Revenue is generated entirely through quote-based professional services across five streams: product certification, installation inspection, laboratory testing and calibration, consulting (including independent engineering evaluation, management system audits, technology surveillance, and competitive intelligence), and training programs anchored on the recurring RETIE diploma cycle.

Distribution is direct (B2B) via three Colombian offices — Medellín (headquarters), Sabaneta (laboratories), and Bogotá (regional) — and through digital channels including a customer portal for certificate queries and a content/blog presence. The organization also operates industry initiatives: FISE, the annual international electrical sector fair co-created in 2006 with the Cámara de Comercio de Medellín and Clúster de Energía Sostenible; IDÓNEA, a 2024 conformity-assessment organism for labor competencies developed with IEB; and ENERGYLAB, a national laboratory jointly built with Ecopetrol and Universidad del Valle. Pricing is non-public and quote-based; there is no disclosed revenue, no external equity, no venture or growth funding, and no M&A activity recorded.

Name

CIDET

Legal name

Corporación Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico del Sector Eléctrico

Website

https://cidet.org.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CIDET is a Medellín-based Colombian non-profit corporation providing accredited electrical certification, inspection, testing, calibration, consulting, and training services under RETIE/RETILAP to manufacturers, energy distributors, and industrial clients across Colombia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Sector Certification and Testing Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Third-Party Certification, Code Compliance & Regulatory Inspection (ASME/API/ISO) (EUAEAHAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electrical Testing & Certification (Protection Relays, Switchgear, Transformers) (EUAEAHAG), Quality Assurance/Quality Control & Accreditation (QA plans, proficiency testing, ISO/IEC 17025) (EUANAJAK)

Keywords

• Electrical product certification
• Installation inspection services
• Accredited laboratory testing
• Calibration services
• Electrical industry training

Headquarters

HQ city

Medellín

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Product Certification Services: Certification of electrical products for compliance with RETIE and RETILAP regulations
2. Installation Inspection Services: Inspection and certification of electrical installations
3. Laboratory Testing and Calibration: Testing and calibration services for electrical equipment and products
4. Training and Education: Professional training programs including RETIE and RETILAP diplomas and specialized courses
5. Consulting Services: Technical consulting including independent engineering evaluation, management system audits, and technical supplier evaluation

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CIDET delivers accredited certification, inspection, laboratory testing, calibration, technical consulting, and professional training services for the Colombian electrical sector under RETIE and RETILAP regulations. Its portfolio includes product certification, electrical installation inspection, commercial border verification, and three ONAC/ANAB/IDEAM-accredited laboratories (electromechanical and lighting testing, calibration, and chemical analysis). It also runs industry initiatives such as the FISE electrical sector fair and the IDÓNEA competency certification organism.

Product overview

CIDET (Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico del Sector Eléctrico) is a Colombian Center of Innovation and Productivity recognized by Minciencias. The organization offers an integrated portfolio of certification, testing, consulting, and training services for the electrical industry. Core services include product certification (RETIE/RETILAP), electrical installation inspections, commercial border verification, and three accredited laboratories (electromechanical testing, calibration, and chemical analysis). The consulting arm provides technical services, technological surveillance, and competitive intelligence. Training programs include diplomas and courses on electrical safety and renewable energy. CIDET also manages industry initiatives including FISE (International Electrical Sector Fair) and IDÓNEA (competency certification organism).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FISE: Feria Internacional del Sector Eléctrico - An international electrical sector fair created by CIDET in partnership with Cámara de Comercio de Medellín and Clúster de Energía Sostenible since 2006.
• IDÓNEA

Products and services

• Electrical Product Certification (RETIE/RETILAP)

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and strategic.

• Cámara de Comercio de MedellínflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Co-creators of FISE (Feria Internacional del Sector Eléctrico), the International Electrical Sector Fair held annually since 2006
• Clúster de Energía SostenibleflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Co-creators of FISE (Feria Internacional del Sector Eléctrico), the International Electrical Sector Fair held annually since 2006
• ONACcoreOthersNational accreditation body providing CIDET's accreditation for product certification (code 09-CPR-004), laboratory testing (code 11-LAB-024), inspection (code 10-OIN-025), and calibration (code 17-LAC-003)
• ANABcoreOthersAccreditation body providing CIDET accreditation (ID#0829) under ISO/IEC 17065:2012 for product certification
• IDEAMcoreOthersEnvironmental institute providing CIDET laboratory accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for chemical analysis laboratory (resolution 1474 of 2023)
• IEBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for IDÓNEA, a conformity assessment organism for evaluating and certifying labor competencies required by the industry
• Universidad del VallestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ENERGYLAB, a national laboratory for the electrical sector being built in collaboration with Ecopetrol and Universidad del Valle

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ICONTEC: Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certification, the primary domestic peer issuing product, system, and personnel certifications. Directly comparable as a Colombian conformity-assessment body serving overlapping manufacturer and enterprise customers under similar ONAC accreditation.
• UL (Underwriters Laboratories): Global safety science organization specializing in electrical product safety certification. Directly comparable to CIDET's RETIE/RETILAP product certification line for electrical OEMs seeking market access — UL Solutions specifically targets Latin American regulatory compliance for manufacturers exporting to the U.S. and accessing global markets.
• CSA Group: Standards development and testing/certification organization with strong electrical product certification franchise. Directly comparable for manufacturers seeking accredited electrical product certification — increasingly active across Latin America.

Broad incumbents

• TÜV Rheinland: German-based global TIC firm with extensive electrical product certification and solar/renewables testing capabilities. Comparable as a broad incumbent targeting the same manufacturer customers and increasingly relevant as Colombia's energy transition accelerates.
• Intertek: Global TIC provider with strong electrical product testing, calibration, and certification capabilities. Comparable as a broad incumbent active across Latin America serving the same manufacturer customer base as CIDET.
• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC firm with dedicated electrical and electronics testing services. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving manufacturers and utilities with certification and inspection services — competes for the same Colombian enterprise customers as CIDET.
• SGS: World's largest testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) company. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering electrical product testing, calibration, and inspection services globally, with established operations in Colombia that overlap with CIDET's service portfolio.
• TÜV SÜD: Global TIC provider offering product testing, certification, and auditing for electrical and industrial equipment. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving the same manufacturer and utility customers across Latin America.
• DEKRA: Global TIC organization with strong product testing and certification across automotive, industrial, and electrical sectors. Comparable as a broad incumbent that competes for manufacturer certification mandates in Latin American markets.

Regional players

• Element Materials Testing: Global testing services provider with electrical and product testing capabilities; active across the Americas but with thinner Colombian presence. Comparable as a regional-adjacent TIC player that could expand into CIDET's territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CIDET
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CIDET_ORG
• Facebookfacebook.com/CIDETColombia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cidet-corporaci-n-centro-de-investigaci-n-y-desarrollo-tecnol-gico-del-sector-el-ctrico
• Instagraminstagram.com/cidet_org

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CIDET