News

Subscribe to our newsletter and social media channels to stay tuned about all our updates. We regularly post news about events, partnerships and innovation updates of our resident companies f.e.

<< Back to overview

10 mrt, 2023

Brussels Airport continues to focus on drone innovation and plans to invest in DronePort

The drone and advanced air mobility sector is evolving rapidly and offers new development opportunities for the aviation industry. That is why Brussels Airport wants to invest in DronePort, a unique ecosystem focused on research, innovation and development in the drone and Advanced Air Mobility market. With this investment, Brussels Airport wants to further support innovation and development in the field of drones.

Stimulate research and innovation

DronePort is located on the former air force base of Sint-Truiden, and is an initiative of the Limburg Investment Company LRM, the city of Sint-Truiden, POM Limburg and JK Invest. The development of the site started in 2013, and DronePort aims to stimulate research and innovation by creating an ecosystem for the drone and Advanced Air Mobility sector. This ecosystem includes a regional airport as well as various services including a campus, a drone test site and an incubator that form a growth platform for companies that want to further develop this new market.

Brussels Airport has the ambition to play a leading role in the development and application of innovative solutions based on the use of drones. In 2021, Brussels Airport has therefore already become a shareholder in SkeyDrone, a pioneer in the field of drone services and drone management systems. Due to this intended capital injection in DronePort, Brussels Airport would now also become a co-shareholder.

Unique position

“By acquiring a 30% stake in DronePort, we will have the opportunity to take a unique position in this emerging industry,” explains Arnaud Feist CEO of Brussels Airport Company. “We are increasingly investing in the development of innovative technologies and are working on various drone projects, including airport security and operational efficiency. With this participation in DronePort, Brussels Airport wants to strengthen its role in the development of solutions and services based on drone technology.”

This intended capital increase will enable DronePort to continue and accelerate the development of their infrastructure and ecosystem. The shareholder partnership makes it possible to accelerate co-creation and to promote the drone community and its developments in Belgium and beyond. The partners have the joint ambition to develop DronePort into a drone airport with an international reputation.

Strategic partnership

“DronePort was founded a few years ago, already responding to the burgeoning drone industry and was ahead of its time thanks to its unique test facilities, incubation operation and infrastructure. The entry of Brussels Airport Company will herald a new chapter for DronePort, a next step in the company’s life cycle. Brussels Airport is a strong strategic partner with solid aviation knowledge, a clear ambition and an international network that will help DronePort scale up to a reference in the drone sector at European level”, says Tom Vanham, General Manager of LRM.

The transaction is subject to finalization and approval by the relevant competition authorities and respective governing bodies and is expected to close in mid-2023.

Contact

Jeroen Bloemen, LRM spokesperson
0477 67 47 18
j.bloemen@lrm.be

Brussels Airport Press Office
02 753 53 53
Media@brusselsairport.be

Subscribe and follow us for frequent updates

100 participants for the DronePort Connect session on agricultural drone applications

100 participants for the DronePort Connect session on agricultural drone applications

On November 13, 2023, DronePort came alive with the buzz of innovation and collaboration as it hosted the DronePort Connect session, a day dedicated to exploring the use of drones in the agro-food sector. Organized in partnership with EUKA / Flanders Make, PC Fruit, ILVO, VITO, and Boerenbond, the event marked a significant gathering of professionals from the broad spectrum of the agrofood industry and developers or providers of drone applications.

read more
Passenger drone transports for the first time medical cargo through European airspace at DronePort

Passenger drone transports for the first time medical cargo through European airspace at DronePort

On July 25, 2023, a large two-seat passenger drone transported heavy medical cargo through European airspace for the first time, adjacent to populated area. The drone flight, a completely unmanned and automated mission, transported ten blood bags over 1-kilometer distance through DronePort’s proving airspace in Sint-Truiden, Belgium. The operation and test flights were coordinated by Belgian company Helicus, which is known for developing drone applications and technologies for aerial medical transport.

read more
Aviation expert Ward Decaluwe new CEO at DronePort

Aviation expert Ward Decaluwe new CEO at DronePort

The Board of Directors of DronePort nv has appointed a new CEO. Ward Decaluwe (56) is an aviation expert with a long career within Brussels Airport Company, Sabena and Brussels Airlines. He takes over the helm at DronePort, which aims to further grow into a benchmark in the European drone and aviation innovation industry.

read more