The SOFTMOVE opening conference “Unmanned-Space (U-Space) and Unmanned Aerial System (UAS): Challenges and Opportunities in the IPA Area,” held on May 29th in the Multimedia Room of the Physics Department at the University of Bari, attracted a diverse audience of experts, professionals, industry stakeholders, public administration representatives, students, and researchers from the South Adriatic IPA region (Italy-Albania-Montenegro) and beyond.
Throughout the sessions, speakers explored the impact of U-space and Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) solutions and the opportunities offered by innovative aerial and space services. This will be achieved through innovative experiments and technology transfer, focusing on the use of drones and related services. Key areas of application include civil protection, healthcare, precision agriculture, and territorial control, extending to new forms of aerial mobility.
The SOFTMOVE project was presented by the lead partner Distretto Tecnologico Aerospaziale (DTA); the Montenegrin startup incubator NVU Digital Den; and the Albanian State Authority for Geospatial Information (ASIG).
The DTA highlighted the role of the Grottaglie Airport Test Bed research and experimentation infrastructure and the ESA Business Incubation Centre Brindisi startup incubator in developing the drone industry in the region. Contributions from academic and industrial representatives offered valuable insights into the practical applications of drones and innovative aerial services, promoting cross-sector and cross-country collaboration.
SOFTMOVE aims to build transnational collaborative relationships that promote drone use, focusing on operations, the implementation of innovative aerial services, and the utilization of space services to meet the needs of citizens in future smart cities within the South Adriatic IPA area. Enhancing knowledge and capabilities is crucial for improving drone technology skills in the South Adriatic region and proposing solutions for smart city challenges. Developing expertise in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) can positively impact the local industry, encouraging active participation from startups and SMEs that can share technologies and interdisciplinary skills.