With the combination of high-tech knowledge and skills, facilities for testing and experimentation, and intensive cooperation with governments and emergency services, Space53 has a unique position in the drone world. The intensive cooperation within the ecosystem enables the participating companies to achieve a competitive position in the extensive global market with their socially impactful innovations.

"Technology Base is a great place for technology-driven companies in particular, who are looking for a place where they can work in a concentrated way to develop their product while seeking interaction with others." 

Space53 is located at Technology Base. The testing ground for innovation-driven companies offers Space53's participants ideal conditions for safely developing, testing and experimenting with new materials and systems, as well as for educating and training people. The 3 km long runway, the abundance of space and the shielded environment make the place unique.

Experimental drones

The Environmental and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) has granted State of Motion, as part of Drone Flight Company and partner within Space53, the authority to test with experimental drones at Technology Base. The decision brings another step closer to a full-fledged test site where full experimentation with innovative technology can take place in Twente.

Space53 thus has the necessary test space for various drone projects, such as the development of new drone monitoring technology, safety concepts and new applications with drones in European projects. The exemption allows Space53 partners, including the University of Twente and Saxion University of Applied Sciences, to save important time. They are using experimental and therefore not yet certified technology for which they can now assess for themselves whether it is safe enough to test with.

"At Technology Base we have access to a very nice free airspace and that is quite unique in the Netherlands. Of course, the Netherlands is only a small country. We already don't have that much airspace, but certainly not when you get near the larger airports. The advantage of the Eastern Netherlands is that we are further away from Schiphol and Rotterdam. As a result, we have a lot of airspace at our disposal to test and experiment with aircraft that are just a bit more complex or experimental and with which you'd rather not take too much risk near built-up areas or vulnerable objects." 

BVLOS flights

At Technology Base, the collaboration between Space53, Twente Safety Campus and Mapture.ai allows drones to be flown both day and night, without the operator having the drone in sight.

In the future, drones will mainly be used to do their work automatically or even autonomously. Until now, almost nowhere in Europe was it possible to fly drones outside the direct view of the pilot. Experimenting and testing with them was also virtually impossible. Thanks to the permission granted to Space53, Mapture and Twente Safety Campus to fly BVLOS day and night, they can accelerate work at Space53 to develop these automatic and autonomous drones.

You can read the double interview with Marc and Gyula from Young Twente Board and much more in our magazine.