CERPA Italia Onlus

What CERPA Italia Onlus does

CERPA Italia Onlus (legally Associazione CERPA Italia ETS, Centro Europeo di Ricerca e Promozione dell'Accessibilità) is an Italian non-profit association founded in 1993, headquartered in Trento with operational offices in Reggio Emilia and Modena. Its stated mission is to promote the culture of social inclusion and combat the discrimination and marginalization of individuals, with a particular focus on improving the accessibility, usability, and enjoyability of environments for people with disabilities, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups. CERPA operates as a center of expertise on accessibility and inclusive design rather than a technology company: it does not develop or operate a software product, and its core activities center on knowledge creation, dissemination of technical manuals and normative documents, and the organization of educational events and training programs.

CERPA's core products are publications (technical manuals such as the Persone e ambiente series, PEBA planning tools, Progettare la normalità technical sheets, the Albergo via dei Matti n.0 research project, the Accessibile è meglio white paper, and regulatory guides such as the Guida alle agevolazioni fiscali), plus seminars, workshops, and co-design projects delivered in partnership with regional governments, professional associations (e.g., the Order of Engineers of Bologna), and disability federations (Unione Italiana Ciechi, Ente Nazionale Sordi). Its revenue is generated through three streams: recurring membership fees (Iscrizione) from individuals and organizations joining the ETS association, one-time sales of publications at €0.50–€25 per document, and professional services revenue from training programs delivered with institutional partners. Pricing for membership and training is not publicly disclosed; distribution flows through the CERPA website, direct sales, and partnerships with regional administrations.

The organization serves five primary customer segments: people with disabilities and accessibility needs (persona), public administrations and government bodies (business unit, the most active counterparty segment), technical professionals such as architects and engineers (persona), tourism and hospitality operators (business unit), and civil protection and emergency services (business unit). CERPA leads the Network CERPA, a federation of regional accessibility centers, and is a member of European networks including EIDD Design for All Europe and C.A.R.E. The organization employs approximately 10 people, has no external investors or parent company, and operates entirely in the Italian market across at least 11 regions.

Name

CERPA Italia Onlus

Legal name

Associazione CERPA Italia ETS

Website

https://cerpa.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CERPA Italia Onlus is an Italian non-profit association founded in 1993 that researches and promotes accessibility and inclusive design. It serves public administrations, technical professionals, and disability communities through publications, training seminars, and co-design projects across Italy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Trento

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership fees (Iscrizione): CERPA Italia is an ETS association (Ente del Terzo Settore / Third Sector Entity). Revenue is generated through membership fees from individuals and organizations that join the association.
2. Sale of publications and technical documents: CERPA sells technical manuals, guidelines, and other publications. Prices range from €0.50 to €25.00 per document. Documents cover topics such as accessibility planning, inclusive design, technical manuals, and legislation.
3. Training and professional education: CERPA organizes and participates in professional training programs, workshops, and seminars on inclusive design, accessibility, and related topics. These programs are delivered in collaboration with professional associations (e.g., Order of Engineers) and other institutional partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CERPA Italia ETS is a non-profit association that researches, publishes, and promotes accessibility and inclusive design in Italy. Its core offerings consist of a catalog of technical manuals, planning guidelines and white papers on accessibility (sold per document), professional training seminars and workshops on inclusive design, and accessibility consulting/co-design services delivered to public administrations and professional associations. The organization also runs a national Network CERPA of regional accessibility centers.

Product overview

CERPA Italia ETS is a non-profit organization (Ente del Terzo Settore) focused on European research and promotion of accessibility. Their offerings consist primarily of publications, technical manuals, research documents, and educational resources rather than a software product or platform. Key offerings include technical manuals on accessibility design (Persone e ambiente series), accessible tourism publications (including the Albergo via dei Matti n.0 research project and Accessibile è meglio white paper), planning tools for barrier elimination (PEBA), fiscal benefit guides, and educational seminars on inclusive design. The organization also maintains databases and document repositories covering architecture, urban planning, environment and safety, regulations, planning, and society and participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Technical Publications Catalog (Manuali tecnici e documenti) A long-running catalog of accessibility publications sold per document (€0.50–€25.00), covering technical manuals on pedestrian crossings, housing safety, inclusive communication, natural-areas accessibility, emergency assistance, accessible tourism, barrier-free design, and fiscal benefits. Audience: architects, engineers, urban planners, public administrations, disability organizations, and individual professionals seeking authoritative Italian accessibility references.
• Professional Training Programs and Seminars on Inclusive Design Continuing-education seminars, workshops, and training cycles on inclusive and universal design, delivered in partnership with professional orders (e.g., Ordine degli Ingegneri di Bologna), universities (Politecnico di Milano), regional governments, and disability organizations. Audience: architects, engineers, urban planners, designers, and public-sector staff.
• Accessibility Consulting and Co-Design Services Bespoke consulting and co-design services on accessibility planning, PEBA development, barrier-free design, and disability-focused innovation projects (e.g., sensory-disability autonomy technologies, accessible self-service restaurants). Audience: regional and local public administrations, hospitality operators, and disability organizations.
• Membership (Iscrizione) in Associazione CERPA Italia ETS Annual membership in the CERPA Italia ETS association, available to individuals and organizations that join the third-sector entity. Audience: individuals, professionals, and organizations supporting the mission of promoting accessibility and social inclusion.

Quantifiable outcome

• Design for All Foundation recognized the ADA project (Tuscany) as a 'Good practice' of Design for All.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dipartimento Politiche Sociali dell'Assessorato regionale della sanità, salute e politiche sociali (Valle d'Aosta)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCERPA participates in a co-design project with the Department of Social Policies of the Valle d'Aosta Regional Authority, focused on accessibility for people with sensory disabilities. The project, Sensi+ Tecnologie per l'autonomia and Partecipo! Accedo e comunico, involves collaboration with disability organizations including Unione Italiana dei Ciechi e degli Ipovedenti, Ente Nazionale Sordi, and Co.Di.VdA.
• Unione Italiana dei Ciechi e degli IpovedenticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the co-design project on sensory disabilities, contributing expertise on accessibility for people with visual impairments.
• Ente Nazionale SordicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the co-design project on sensory disabilities, contributing expertise on accessibility for people with hearing impairments.
• Co.Di.VdA (Coordinamento Disabilità Valle d'Aosta)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the co-design project on disability and accessibility in Valle d'Aosta.
• Commissione Giovani dell'Ordine degli Ingegneri di BolognacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint collaboration on inclusive design seminars and professional training programs. The Commissione Giovani dell'Ordine degli Ingegneri di Bologna collaborates with CERPA and other entities on a cycle of seminars on inclusive design, held in April 2025.
• CAI sez. Ascoli PicenocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint organization of inclusive hiking trails and visits. CERPA and CAI sez. Ascoli Piceno co-organized a seminar on inclusive visits held on March 15, 2025.
• Regione Emilia-RomagnacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing institutional partner in numerous accessibility and inclusive design projects. Regione Emilia-Romagna collaborated with CERPA on PEBA planning documents, technical manuals (e.g., 'Progettare la normalità'), and accessibility guidelines.
• Regione Friuli Venezia GiuliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with CERPA on home accident prevention manuals (Infortuni nelle abitazioni, 2010) and accessibility-related training events.
• CRIBA Emilia-Romagna (Centro Regionale per l'Accessibilità)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRIBA (now part of the Network CERPA system) was funded by the Regione Emilia-Romagna for second-level consulting on environmental well-being (benessere ambientale). CERPA provides ongoing support.
• EIDD Design for All EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network of organizations promoting Design for All principles. CERPA is a member and has collaborated on events and publications with EIDD.
• C.A.R.E. - Città Accessibili delle Regioni EuropeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean project on accessible cities in which CERPA participated, producing publications on accessible tourism in mountain locations.
• Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI) and FISH (Federazione Italiana per il Superamento dell'Handicap)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with ACI and FISH on the development of 'Linee Guida per la progettazione degli attraversamenti pedonali' (2012), providing technical guidance on accessible pedestrian crossings.
• Cooperativa Sociale AssominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the 'T.15 Turismo eccellente' publication (2007) focused on accessible tourism and hospitality management.
• CICSENEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural collaboration on housing discrimination topics. CERPA published a work by Roberta Ribero of CICSENE titled 'Quali motivi per non affittare casa' (August 2025) addressing housing discrimination.
• Politecnico di MilanocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCERPA has provided patronage and collaborated on inclusive design courses and permanent training programs at the Politecnico di Milano, including the course 'Design for All strategy. Requisiti operativi per la progettazione accessibile e inclusiva: il ruolo dell'inclusive designer.'
• Network CERPAcoreOthersCERPA leads the Network CERPA (networkcerpa.org), a network of regional centers for accessibility. Network members include CRIBA Lombardia, Centro per l'autonomia umbro, and other regional accessibility centers. From July 2024, CRIBA is no longer directly funded by Regione Emilia-Romagna for second-level consulting activities.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AbilityNet: UK non-profit focused on disability and accessibility, providing advice, training, and resources to organizations on inclusive design and digital accessibility. Operates in the same accessibility research/promotion/education niche as CERPA but at greater scale in the UK.
• Center for Universal Design (Oregon State University): Research center advancing universal design principles through publications, training, and guidelines. Highly comparable to CERPA's core activity of producing technical accessibility manuals and educational content.
• FISH - Federazione Italiana per il Superamento dell'Handicap: Italian disability federation and confirmed CERPA partner. Operates in the same social inclusion and disability rights space at national scale, collaborating with CERPA on technical guidelines (e.g., accessible pedestrian crossings).
• Ente Nazionale Sordi (ENS): Italian deaf association and confirmed CERPA co-design partner. Parallel to UICI as a disability-advocacy peer that brings specific accessibility expertise to CERPA-led projects.
• Unione Italiana dei Ciechi e degli Ipovedenti (UICI): Italian blind and visually impaired association and confirmed CERPA co-design partner. Comparable mission around accessibility promotion, with complementary expertise on visual impairment that CERPA leverages for inclusive design work.
• EIDD Design for All Europe: European network of organizations promoting Design for All principles; CERPA is an active member. Highly comparable mission (inclusive design promotion, knowledge dissemination, training events) and a direct peer in the accessibility/inclusive design non-profit space.

Regional players

• Fondazione Lega del Filo d'Oro: Major Italian non-profit supporting deaf-blind people and their families through rehabilitation and training. Italian peer with a narrower mission but comparable operational model of training, publications, and partnerships with public bodies.
• AIAS Bologna onlus: Italian disability association providing services, advocacy, and training on accessibility and inclusion. A regional peer working in CERPA's home territory of Emilia-Romagna with comparable advocacy and training functions.
• La Nostra Famiglia: Italian non-profit providing rehabilitation, research, and training on disability. Operates in the same Italian disability/inclusion ecosystem as CERPA, with broader clinical scope but similar research-and-training positioning.

Broad incumbents

• European Disability Forum (EDF): EU-level umbrella organization representing the rights of 100 million Europeans with disabilities. Broader and more politically focused than CERPA, but operates in the same pan-European disability/accessibility promotion space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cerpaitaliaonlus
• Facebookfacebook.com/CerpaitaliaOnlus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cerpa-italia-onlus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about CERPA Italia Onlus