Established in 1952 the University of L'Aquila is a public teaching and research institution offering a full range of academic programmes. With 7 departments, the University offers 69 degree courses, 9 research doctorate programmes, specialisation schools, specializing-master courses and vocational courses to the over 19,000 enrolled students. The Centre of EXcellence on Connected, Geo-localized and Cyber-secure vehicles (EX-EMERGE) was founded in 2019 and it represents a major goal of the broader EMERGE research program: that program had been formerly selected and approved by the Inter-ministry Committee for Economic Planning (CIPE) of Italy with act n. 70/2017 in the frame of RESTART, an initiative of the Italian Government that relies on research and technology advances as a driver for the economic and social development of L’Aquila and Abruzzo region after the earthquake of 2009.

One of its objectives is to setup advanced laboratory facilities and test beds for experimental activities and field trials, that includes smart infrastructures and vehicles. The centre also promotes education courses for training high skilled resources on ICT for mobility, Navigation and Telecommunications including 5G.