Welcome to Ceramics and Composite Materials (CCM) research group, the interface between science and cultural heritage. The mission of CCM group is to advance scientific, technological, and archaeological/historical knowledge by conducting applied research in areas of Physical, Chemical and Engineering Sciences on cultural heritage materials and monuments, as well as on modern ceramic and cementitious building and conservation materials.

Our work spans from the study of cultural materials in order to extract information of archaeological, historical and cultural importance, to the development of nanomaterials and nanocomposites for the conservation and protection of monuments and modern buildings and structures.

The topics that we conduct research and foster innovation are: 

1. development and application of methodologies to study and reconstruct production, exchange, technological practices and identity, based on the characterisation of archaeological materials, 
2. study of deterioration mechanisms and effect of climatic conditions on materials and monuments, 
3. development of new materials for the conservation and protection of archaeological monuments and historic structures, which are compatible with the original ones, 
4. development of innovative composites, for the enhancement of service life of built heritage and critical structures,
5. development and maintenance of relational open-access databases and big data management. 

Furthermore, CCM is active in education, by supervising PhD, MSc and final year students and co-organising and teaching at postgraduate courses in collaboration with universities.

In terms of technology transfer of the R&D results, the group is active towards the creation an IP portfolio based on the work on modern materials as well as providing specialized consultation and services to academic and industrial clients as well as governmental bodies, especially to the Ministry of Culture.

The underline strategy of all CCM group activities include the study and exploitation of archaeological and traditional technologies and know-how, and by integrating digital technologies, to develop modern building and restoration materials with improved properties, aligned with current technological trends and priorities of the Green Deal and Horizon Europe roadmaps.