Defence momentum reshapes International Drone Show in Odense

International developments are reshaping the International Drone Show in Odense, with defence taking an increasingly prominent role.

- Our aim is to bring together the drone and robotics community, says Søren Elmer Kristensen, chief executive of Odense Robotics, the Danish business cluster for robotics, automation and drone technologies.

- Denmark has a well-established ecosystem and a strong drone cluster. Our primary task is to build connections between industry, universities and the market.

The International Drone Show takes place from June 3-4 at HC Andersen Airport in Odense. 

The event has grown into one of the largest of its kind in northern Europe, attracting more than 1,500 participants from 40 countries and around 170 exhibitors.

The event is hosted by Odense Robotics and the UAS Denmark International Test Center.

Kristensen points to the war in Ukraine and the pace of innovation emerging from the conflict.

- We have to learn from Ukraine in terms of creating partnerships and developing technology at speed, he says.

Several exhibitors are newcomers showcasing technologies still under development, and ntechnologies need a route to market from the outset. 

- This is where an event like this can create opportunities to build relationships, share knowledge and explore possibilities that may not otherwise emerge, he said, pointing to the growing crossover between civilian and defence applications.

Defence is taking a larger share of the event than in previous years, Kristensen noted.

- The end-user segment has shifted significantly towards defence. That trend has been building for years, but it has accelerated over the past couple of years, he says.

The change is visible on the exhibition floor, where military representatives are increasingly present.

- From an industry perspective, we are seeing a growing number of companies moving into the defence sector. It is a clear trend, Kristensen said.

Odense is home to Denmark's leading robotics and drone cluster. Over the past decade, a concentration of high-technology companies, research institutions and universities has emerged around the city.

However, Kristensen stressed that there is a significant difference between developing technologies for commercial sectors such as agriculture and producing systems for defence applications.

- Defence is a different market with different customers. That is why we work hard to build this community, helping companies share knowledge and open doors.

Denmark is well positioned to develop drone technologies and continues to attract strong interest from international industry, he added.

- While technology and industry are developing, the market must develop alongside them. Demand and requirements need to evolve in step with industrial capabilities.

- We hope that development will take place here, across both civilian and defence applications. There is still a great deal of work to do.