Drone Innovation Partnership

A two-year in-depth study to help prepare Dublin for the widespread use of drones in commercial and civic life. The project is led by a research team from Lero, the Research Ireland Centre for Software and Maynooth University, in collaboration with Dublin City Council (DCC), and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).

Project Work Packages

Stakeholder Engagement

The team will actively engage with both partner and societal stakeholders including end users, civil and civic society organisations and industry, to develop a governance framework for drone operations across urban environments

Demonstrators

Demonstrators will be planned throughout the project to enhance transparency and report progress across ongoing engagements and research activities

Strategic Roadmap

The Partnership will present a strategic roadmap for the rollout of urban drones services including technologies, potential funding and business models, regulatory aspects, policy recommendations and governance

Digital Platform

The team will design a prototype geospatial platform services to research, plan and visualise various aspects in relation to consensus, drone operations and low-altitude airspace management

The Partnership

The Drone Innovation Partnership will shape the future of drones and urban air mobility. This strategic partnership will play a key role in providing the basis for the regulated integration of innovative technologies such as drones, into the daily lives

The Partners

Irish Aviation Authority: Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Division

Lero: Research Ireland Centre for Software

Maynooth University: Department of Computer Science – the National Centre for Geocomputation (NCG)

Dublin City Council: Corporate Services & Transformation Department – Smart Cities Unit

Dublin City Council: Environment & Transportation Department – Drone Unit

Partners Website

Latest news and blog posts

Elementum quia fugit cum euismod, varius hymenaeos.

What are stakeholders saying

Drone operations and technology are fast moving, what is being said about it? Check it out some quotes of what’s being said or published about this topic, from stakeholders engaged and subject matter experts.

“Ireland has an established record of leadership in regulation of emerging technologies. As drones begin to be used more and more across the globe, at home we have seen them supplying emergency medicines, delivering fast food, used for search and rescue purposes and to enhance public safety among a range of important applications. Earlier this year, the Government held a public consultation on the development of a policy framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones. The research partnership being launched today, between Lero, Maynooth University, Dublin City Council and the Irish Aviation Authority, with stakeholder engagement at its heart, is very much aligned with Government’s efforts to foster the industry’s growth while mitigating safety, security, environmental, privacy, and other concerns.”

James Lawless TD

Minister of State at the Department of Transport and at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and TD for Kildare North

“Research Ireland supports partnerships such as this to bring key stakeholders together, to drive progress and capitalise on the advantages offered by innovative and disruptive technologies. While exploring emerging technologies and systems to capture data and support responses to critical events, this collaborative approach helps us to better understand its potential benefits and impact on wider society. Investing in basic research is of strategic importance to Research Ireland, as it allows us to support a pipeline of transformative solutions to bring about real-world benefits.”

Dr Ciarán Seoighe

Deputy CEO, Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland

This unique drone innovation partnership will contribute to Dublin City Council’s Drone and Urban Air Mobility Strategy 2024-2029, an ambitious roadmap to support the integration of drones into city services and position Dublin and Ireland as a European leader in Drones and Urban Air Mobility,

Jamie Cudden

Smart City Lead Dublin City Council

The Drone Innovation Partnership project will provide crucial information and analysis of the key aspects of an effective air traffic control system for a complex ecosystem of drones serving a city’s needs. It will also support the establishment of a comprehensive and effective drone flight management infrastructure for Ireland, which provides a safe environment for all air traffic while facilitating a growing commercial drone industry.