The Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Stefan-Radu Oprea, and the Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitalization, Bogdan-Gruia Ivan, signed on Tuesday a collaboration protocol in the field of scientific research and technological development, which lays the foundations for the first integrated program that will create the Romanian drone.
„Today we are laying the foundations of the first integrated program that will create the Romanian drone. The Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization, INCAS and the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism will implement this partnership, from the concept to the transfer of technological solutions in the real economy. We have considered all the necessary aspects, including intellectual property and patents, together with the opening to the market, to be able to progress efficiently. Through this protocol, we are taking the step towards a new stage for Romanian aerospace research”, stated Minister Bogdan-Gruia Ivan.
For his part, the Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Stefan-Radu Oprea, stated that the drone prototype could become „an industrialized product in the factories of the defense industry in Romania, with state and private capital”.
„Today there are several actors who have various components of a drone or assemble drones, they have various prototypes. However, the types of drones that are used today by the defense industry are very varied. We want to be able to have Romanian drones, with software produced in Romania”, Oprea also said.
He mentioned that, in a year at the most, the mass production of Romanian drones could start, which could be used in agriculture or in the civil field.
The protocol was signed at the headquarters of the „Elie Carafoli” National Aerospace Research and Development Institute (INCAS), under the coordination of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization. INCAS is a regional leader in the field of aerospace sciences in Romania, with a 75-year tradition in aerospace engineering, flow physics and applied aerodynamics, which is based on a strategic infrastructure of national importance.
The protocol signed by the two ministers establishes a mechanism for identifying and defining the requirements of organizations from the National Defense, Public Order and Security System and for solving them through expertise, available local technologies and research and development infrastructure, located both in public entities and private from the national research-development-innovation system.
Within the partnership, the financing instruments managed by the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization (MCID) will be used, which will support innovative companies to adopt and apply the results in order to increase competitiveness, MCID states.
The first area of technological development will focus on the creation of a complete solution for „Air Capability without a human pilot on board, in the category MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) and dual use purpose”. This solution will include at least two UAV equipment (unmanned aerial vehicles) and all the ground means necessary for the control and technical and IT assurance of flights.
Another targeted area will be the development of solutions for „Conversion of classic ammunition in autonomous aerial systems (Loitering ammunition)”. This will involve fixed and rotary wing UAV systems, as well as all the elements necessary for their operation (launch and trajectory control).
The third field refers to the development of a complete solution for „Maritime multi-role and multi-vehicle capability without a human pilot on board”, including all the components necessary for the operation of these systems (launch and control).
For the necessary research and development activities, corresponding to a level of technological maturity TRL 4-8, MCID will allocate funds through the instruments of the National Research, Development and Innovation Plan (PNCDI IV) 2021-2027.
The Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism and the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization, recognizing the importance of strategic autonomy, agreed to collaborate through active partnerships for the development of unmanned technologies and their transfer to industry in order to increase economic competitiveness in Romania.
AGERPRES
