Drones

DSC_0004.JPG

The drone sector in Wallonia is entering a phase of maturity and structuring. Emerging from innovative technological initiatives and building on historical industrial expertise, it now covers the entire UAV value chain, from R&D to integrators and OEMs.

Active across a wide range of application domains - from Earth observation to energy, including security, entertainment and C-UAV systems - the Walloon drone sector is establishing itself as a strategic driver of technological and industrial development.

 

Fields of activity

The Walloon drone ecosystem is structured around cutting-edge competences covering the entire value chain:

  • Embedded electronics

  • Optics and sensors

  • Image generation, processing and analysis

  • Numerical simulation and modelling

  • Flight control and autonomy systems

  • UAV structures, including materials, shapes and aerodynamics

These competences are deployed in applications such as:

  • Earth observation;

  • energy and infrastructures;

  • security and surveillance;

  • entertainment;

  • UAV and C-UAV industries.

 

A consolidating ecosystem

After a phase of rapid growth driven by isolated yet high-performing technological initiatives, the Walloon drone sector is now entering a phase of ecosystem consolidation.

Skywin actively contributes to this structuring by:

  • initiating collective working groups bringing together UAV and payload actors;

  • fostering the emergence of collaborative projects;

  • strengthening the visibility of regional expertise, both at industrial and institutional levels.

 

An evolving regulatory framework

After several years of administrative understaffing, the Belgian authorities have reinforced their resources and initiated a progressive reduction of backlogs related to operational requests.

Sector operators anticipate:

  • processing times converging towards par-level standards with neighbouring countries;

  • enhanced digitalisation of regulatory processes, facilitating the deployment of drone operations.

A roadmap focused on innovation and defence

🔎 Consult the Drone Roadmap Wallonia in collaboration with ID2Move - June 2023

The roadmap of the Walloon drone sector highlights the priority technological and industrial trajectories for the coming years. It is set within a European and national context marked by:

  • an increase in defence budgets in Europe and Belgium;

  • a particular focus on UAV and C-UAV systems;

  • funding opportunities through the EDF (European Defence Fund) and Belgium’s DEFRA (Defence-related Research Action) calls.

Skywin relies on this roadmap to support its members and to structure high value-added collaborative projects.

DRONE Skywin contact

Anthony BIEVELEZ
Project Manager

+32 (0) 476 82 29 55
anthony.bievelez@skywin.be