From Research to Solutions – Turku UAS as a Partner in Defence Cooperation

The defence sector needs partners who move fast from research to results. Turku UAS brings proven capabilities across autonomous systems, cyber situational awareness, drone detection, and city-specific airspace ecosystems.

This article is published as part of a partnership with the Great Defence Industry Day (Suuri Puolustusteollisuuspäivä) organized by the the Chambers of Commerce.

Defence sector collaboration tends to conjure images of universities and basic research. But what businesses actually need is often quite different: a partner capable of translating research into practical, deployable solutions.

The faculty of ICT and Industrial Engineering Faculty at Turku UAS moves fast. When a drone detection need was flagged in early October 2025, the research team responded with a 13-point patent application filed on December 19, 2025. This is what applied research looks like when it serves the defence industry. When speed and real-world testing matter, we have the answer. 

Fact: Turku UAS filed a 13-point patent application for drone detection just a few months after receiving the need.

Autonomous systems and maritime saftey 

Turku UAS has recognized expertise in autonomous systems, spanning individual remotely operated vehicles, swarm management, and technologies for both aircraft and diving equipment. The focus is on mastering the full chain: connectivity, coordination, and delivering real-time situational awareness to the operator.

Finland’s maritime environment is an advantage. Systems tested in the challenging Baltic archipelago, with its unpredictable weather, complex topography, and varying traffic conditions, are built to perform anywhere in the world. This is the value we offer our international partners and customers. 

Alongside marine systems, we are conducting significant and innovative research to better understand human behavior. What kind of cognitive load does an operator experience when controlling multiple autonomous vessels simultaneously? What is the optimal way to present situational awareness so that humans remain at the center of decision-making?

Fact: There is no better testing ground than the Baltic Sea archipelago. What works there works anywhere.

A Historic Milestone in Research Funding

In collaboration with the City of Turku and Rumble Tools, Turku UAS is launching the Low-altitude Economy project — with a bold goal: to build one of the world’s first low-altitude airspace infrastructures, right here in Turku.  

The project envisions Turku as a future smart city where low-altitude technology becomes woven into every aspect of urban life — giving rise to an entirely new industry. The market potential is significant: Morgan Stanley and others estimate global Low Altitude Economy revenues could reach approximately $1 trillion by 2040 and as much as $9 trillion by 2050. By building this network locally, companies in the Turku region will be well-positioned to capture their share of this growth.

Ultimately, it comes down to courage — setting ambitious goals and pursuing them with real momentum. As lead coordinator of the project, Turku UAS is committed to doing exactly that: rolling up our sleeves and turning this vision into reality.

Turku UAS has been awarded its largest-ever Business Finland grant, over €13 million, for the MilVerse4MDO project, which aims to develop Finland’s defence ecosystem.

Surprised?

These examples offer just a glimpse of what the seven research groups and world-class infrastructure of our faculty can deliver. Collaboration can start simply: the company defines the problem, and we build the solution — drawing on the talent of our 13,500 students, researchers, and experts.

We have an exceptional track record in securing funding. That means your challenge could become our joint project. It starts with one conversation: tell us what you need, and we will find a solution.  

Many companies are surprised to discover that Turku UAS operates with greater agility than many consulting firms. A “fail fast” mindset drives everything we do. This philosophy is what drives our ambition to become the leading R&D partner for the defence industry.

Getting started is simple. Commission us directly, define the problem, and we will get to work.