Cenicaña carries out research programs on varieties, agronomy and factory processes and has support services in economic and statistical analyses, information and documentation, computer technology, technical cooperation and technology transfer. It provides services of lab analyses; it operates and administers the Automated Weather Network's (AWN), the Network for Monitoring Particulate Matter PM10, and the Geographic Information System of the sugar industry.

Research on the crop is done at the experiment station, the sugar mills and by the cane growers. Research on factory processes is done at the industrial plants considered as pilot sugar mills.

The active participation of researchers, producers and other specialists in the distinct phases of technological innovation is catalyzed through research committees and work groups.