DTA, Lead Partner of the Interreg IPA South Adriatic project SOFTMOVE, is organizing the Opening Conference “U-Space & UAS: Challenges and opportunities in the IPA area” on May 29th 2024 in Bari, at the Campus “Università di Bari - Sala Multimediale, 1° piano, Dipartimento Interateneo di Fisica, M. Merlin”.
As cities evolve, the integration of drone technologies promises to redefine urban landscapes, offering innovative solutions for mobility and sustainability. This evolution can stimulate economic growth by creating new job opportunities and support eco-friendly initiatives, enhancing transportation efficiency and improving citizens' quality of life. In this context, the SOFTMOVE project plays a key role in promoting the uptake of these innovative solutions in the IPA area.
The SOFTMOVE opening conference will bring together experts, professionals, policy makers, industry stakeholders, students, researchers, and enthusiasts from academia, research centers, and the drone industry in the IPA area for a dynamic one-day in-person event.
The opening conference offers a comprehensive exploration of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and drone technology. Sessions will focus on the impact of the SOFTMOVE project, featuring presentations from project partners DTA, NVU Digital Den, and ASIG. The conference will also explore the emergence of U-space and UAS, highlighting Innovative Aerial Services and the role of Grottaglie Airport Test Bed and ESA BIC Brindisi in the drone industry development of the area. Testimonials from academia, research centers, and industrial actors will provide valuable insights into the progress and applications of UAS and Innovative Aerial Services, bridging innovation across borders.
The work of the conference is the first step in laying the groundwork for a feasibility model of Innovative Aerial Services in the IPA area, that will support SMEs in the competitive UAS landscape and drive smart city initiatives. This will provide the basis for possible future initiatives to implement Innovative Aerial Services across the IPA area, further extending the project's impact and engaging stakeholders in this evolving landscape.
The SOFTMOVE project aims to harness the potential of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Innovative Aerial Services in the IPA area through capacity building, policy advocacy for sustainable mobility, knowledge sharing on Urban Air Mobility (UAM), and stakeholder engagement. In addition, it promotes the development of UAS expertise that benefits local industry and encourages the active participation of SMEs in the drone sector.
SOFTMOVE is co-funded by the Interreg IPA South Adriatic 2021-2027 Programme, a cross-border cooperation Programme co-funded by the European Union through the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA III). The SOFTMOVE project partners are DTA Distretto Tecnologico Aerospaziale (IT) as lead partner, NVU Digital Den (ME) and ASIG (AL).