Drone Startups Growth Programme Kicks Off with Intensive Days in Norrköping

Drone startups selected from three countries have begun a joint journey to identify new business opportunities and partnerships in the rapidly expanding drone market.

The IAS Growth Academy programme launched on 20–22 January 2026 with a three-day workshop and intensive programme in Sweden.

During the opening phase, the selected startups explored the drone ecosystem in Norrköping and its surrounding areas, including drone solutions, test environments, leading companies, and ongoing research. The programme featured visits to Norrköping Science Park and Linköping University, where participants gained insight into regional R&D strengths.

In the accompanying video, Richard Granberg, CEO of Västervik Drone Science Park, explains what VDSP is and how it supports drone development.

26 Companies Selected for the First Phase

A total of 26 companies were selected for the first phase of the programme, approximately one third from each participating country: Sweden, Finland, and Estonia. The companies are early-stage growth and scale-up businesses with market ready solutions but limited resources for international expansion.

Visits to Testbeds and Production Facilities

The programme included a visit to Västervik Drone Science Park (VDSP), located at Västervik Airport. There, companies were introduced to the park’s testing and development environments and operational model.

VDSP is also seeking partners from the IAS Business Academy cohort to utilise its testing capabilities and to further develop the regional drone network. The centre operates a large, dedicated drone testing and flight airspace covering 1,800 square kilometres and brings more than ten years of experience in facilitating R&D testing and real world demonstrations.

VDSP’s drone community benefits from strong regional backing, bringing together actors from both the civil and defence sectors to collaborate, advance the industry, and explore new business opportunities.

The companies also visited Norrköping Airport, whose future development plans include drone related education in collaboration with regional stakeholders.

For many participants, one of the highlights of the three day programme was a visit to Scanfil’s factory in Åtvidaberg and the adjacent ACC cluster. Founder and owner Claes Drougge presented the group’s projects, which include the design and manufacturing of large unmanned aerial vehicles. One of the customers for these solutions is Patria.

Research, AI and Networking

On the final intensive day in Norrköping, researchers and entrepreneurs gathered for a joint event at Campus Norrköping. The programme showcased drone-related research themes such as artificial intelligence, printed electronics, visualisation, image analysis, and digital twin concepts. Digital Twin products were illustrated by RISE spin-off company Dubblett. Furthermore, the team visited RISE printed electronics laboratory.

Fact Box: IAS Business Academy

IAS Business Academy is a 24-month international growth programme supporting the internationalisation of innovative aerial services companies from Estonia, Finland, and Sweden. The programme offers company-specific mentoring, expert support, study visits, pilot projects with end users, and participation in international events. Applications for the next, one-year phase of IAS Business Academy will open again towards the end of 2026.

In early 2026, the companies selected for the programme will next explore opportunities, companies, and research activities in the Tampere urban region during a visit scheduled for mid-February.