In July, the SYGMA.Novosibirsk nanocenter Board of Directors approved the launch of the a new platform for startups specialized in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). With the existing Optiplane Drone Systems R&D company, the new project companies will develop air monitoring services for various industries, build drones marketing and sales.
The SYGMA.Novosibirsk’s projects in the UAV field are a part of the ecosystem of companies included in our network of nanotechnology centers. SYGMA.Novosibirsk, SYGMA.Tomsk, T-Nano (Moscow) and Technospark (Troitsk) have already been developing start-ups for drone designing, manufacturing and marketing, as well as UAV-based industrial services.
"The transition of air drones from military to civilian use is a global technological trend, which is currently being actively developed, and in Russia as well," says Yuri Loginov, CEO of the SYGMA.Novosibirsk nanocenter.
One of the new companies of the Novosibirsk nanocenter will implement the fabless business model to manufacture and sell small hybrid UAVs and Colibri convertiplanes designed by Optiplane Drone Systems.
The group of start-ups will develop comprehensive solutions for UAV-based aeromonitoring in various industries, primarily in the electric power sector and agriculture.
The Optiplane Drone Systems R&D-company will continue creating new models of energy-efficient hybrid drones.
In addition, an UAV dealer company is supposed to be founded.
"The in-depth specialization of businesses is one of the basic principles of “serial start-up production” at the network of nanotechnology centres. This helps accelerate the launch of startup projects and build-up technological and business competencies as well as divide cash flows and risks," Yury Loginov says.
The nanocenter will develop new start-ups for their subsequent successful sale. Unmanned Aerial Technologies is the seventh startup platform launched by the SYGMA.Novosibirsk nanocenter. Over 50 startups are being developed based on the platforms: Nanomodified Metals and Alloys, Ceramic Technologies, Medical Biotechnologies, Specialized Chemistry, New Power Engineering, and CVD-Coatings.