By Yvonne Gerster
13. January 2025

Review: 15th consortium partner meeting of AIRlabs Austria 

On 17 December 2024, the 15th AIRlabs Austria consortium partner meeting took place in the impressive solar.one building in Stegersbach. The modern innovation centre, which stands for sustainable energy supply, provided the perfect setting for an event that focused on drone technologies and their diverse applications. 

Exciting insights from Energie Kompass GmbH

Andreas Schneemann, Managing Director and founder of Energie Kompass GmbH and the Schneemann Energy Group, kicked off the event with a presentation of their three central business areas: Project development and support, energy communities and research and development. The insight into the act4.energy innovation laboratory, which demonstrates cross-sector energy concepts for the future as a real laboratory, was particularly inspiring. The guided tour of the solar.one building at the end of the event gave participants a fascinating insight into the sustainable energy supply on site. 

Focus on drone technology 

A highlight of the meeting was the live demonstration by GeoLanes. Stefan Bayer and engineer Maximilian Rusch presented drone technology that is used in areas such as surveying, inspection and public safety. Particularly impressive was the DJI Dock 2, which is located in Croatia and was remotely controlled from Austria during the consortium partner meeting in Stegersbach, allowing its functionality to be impressively demonstrated in real time. ‘The precision and versatility of this technology shows the potential of drones for industrial and public applications,’ said Yvonne Gerster, Communications and PR employee at AIRlabs.

Sustainability and security with Nokia Drone Networks

Robert Fröhler from Nokia Drone Networks presented innovative solutions such as the Drone-in-a-Box technology. This platform enables UAV-based data collection in real time and is already being used successfully in Belgium and Switzerland. Use cases in the areas of forest fire prevention, emergency support and inspections are particularly relevant for Europe. ‘Technology that helps the world act together’ – a slogan that also reflects the goals of AIRlabs. 

New developments and project ideas 

The contributions from Austro Control and Dr Holger Friehmelt underlined the importance of innovation and collaboration in drone technology. While Austro Control presented a simplification of risk assessment (PDRA and SORA 2.5), Dr Friehmelt showed how a holistic view of the IAM ecosystem can promote sustainability and value creation in Austria.

A look into the future

Yvonne Gerster, Communications and PR employee, emphasised the importance of communication for future projects: ‘Drone technology is a forward-looking topic that affects us all. Used correctly, it can benefit both the community and nature, as this day has also shown.’ 

The 15th consortium partner meeting was a complete success and once again emphasised the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative technologies for a sustainable future. AIRlabs Austria is looking forward to the year 2025 and further joint projects with the consortium partners. 


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