The unit will focus on research and development in unmanned aviation, communications, navigation, flight physics and hardware security, covering air, ground and maritime systems. It forms part of a government-backed initiative to strengthen national research and development capacity and is scheduled to become fully operational in summer 2027.
“To meet the growing demand for testing drones designed for military use, the new unit will offer companies across the Nordic-Baltic region a platform to accelerate product development—an essential step in strengthening the region’s defence and resilience,” said André Küüsvek, President and CEO of the Nordic Investment Bank. Total costs for establishing the Drone Technology Unit between 2025 and 2027 are estimated at EUR 17.4 million, within overall Applied Research Centre investments of EUR 42.9 million.
“By combining scientific expertise, state-of-the-art laboratories, defence-driven use cases and strong industrial partnerships, the new Drone Technology Unit will provide companies with a realistic environment to validate and mature their unmanned systems faster and more reliably,” said Rainer Kivimäe, Head of the Drone Technologies Unit at Metrosert’s Applied Research Centre. He added that the project is “a major step towards building a coordinated, world class drone ecosystem in Estonia and across the Nordic Baltic region.”
Metrosert, Estonia’s national metrology institute and research and technology organisation, employs about 130 specialists and works across fields including drone technologies, autonomous vehicles and hydrogen solutions. The Nordic Investment Bank, owned by eight Nordic and Baltic countries, finances projects that enhance productivity and environmental performance and is headquartered in Helsinki with a regional hub in Riga.
