The Polytechnic University of Bari (Politecnico di Bari) was established on 7th August 1990, and it is the youngest among Italian Polytechnic Universities. It currently counts more than 500 research scientists with nearly 10000 students. Research activities will be carried out at the Department of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management (DMMM). The DMMM is one of 180 Departments selected by the Italian ‘Ministry of University and Research’ as “Department of Excellence”. This initiative gives recognition to the DMMM of the high quality of their research. The DMMM has world-leading interdisciplinary research in numerical finite element modelling, acoustic-ultrasonic testing and non-destructive evaluation techniques, with fifteen members of the academic staff carrying out research in ultrasound, thermography, composites, FE simulations and manufacturing of sensing systems, which are all relevant to the ASSESS project. Furthermore, the Polytechnic University of Bari is a lead member of the Italian “Aerospace Technological Cluster”, which will enable the DC to broaden collaborations with major stakeholders and end-users from the aerospace and wind energy industries.