UFO project, came to an end, having supported 66 European SMEs to develop new applications, utilising SFOs (Small Flying Objects) capabilities, to address societal challenges and emerging industries market needs

UFO (Emerging indUstries new value chains boosted by small Flying Objects) aims to support European SMEs to develop innovative products and services by integrating new technological solutions and know-how provided by Small Flying Objects (SFO) sector (drones, high altitude platforms systems, small satellites) combined with embedded digital technologies, Key Enabling Technologies (KET), data analysis and related exploitation solutions. The project addresses the challenges of 6 Emerging Industries: Blue Growth, Digital Creative & Gaming, Mobility Technologies, Climate, Environment, Finance & Insurance.

Since its launch in May 2020, the 33-month project, involving 6 clusters from France, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and the United Kingdom have worked hard at various levels to foster the creation of new value chains among European SMEs targeting a number of emerging industries.

One of the key elements of UFO has been the selection, after a highly competitive process, of 66 SMEs to receive financial support in the form of Demonstration and Feasibility study vouchers through 2 open calls, totaling to € 3.04M of direct funding. The beneficiaries also received high-level mentoring and coaching, via a parallel acceleration programme offered by UFO partners.

Moreover, the UFO project successfully delivered a number of significant achievements:

• Succeeded to link 14 funded SMEs with a total of €16,1M additional funding, from private and public sectors
• Contributed to the creation or reconfiguration of 25 product / service value chains
• Fostered the creation, the enhancement, or the improvement of the production process of 25 goods or services
• Supported 21 demonstration projects
• UFO project partners organized 5 cross-fertilisation sessions and 2 B2B events for the benefit of European SMEs
• A total of 80 potential customers were involved in the activities of UFO
• 70% of the awarded SME projects are offering a solution tackling societal / environmental challenges
• UFO project partners communicated the SFOs across Europe through 14400 + contacts
• A total of 17 awarded projects are in line with the S3 topics of at least 10 different regions and 1 innovative open space platform has been delivered

At least 549  SMEs benefited from the innovative support activities of UFO via financial support and other direct actions

A comprehensive showcase of the capabilities and technologies developed by UFO highlights the 25 projects and the SMEs that were funded by the UFO partnership. Learn about the businesses, their next steps and future exploitation and investment plans.  https://vimeo.com/showcase/9851651

To find out more about all of our UFO funded projects please go to our UFO website: https://www.ufoproject.eu/projects-in-focus/

The feature film of UFO final showcase event gives an overview of the UFO partnership and the successes that it has achieved: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB3MPEXZzIg

 The 25 UFO funded projects together with UFO consortium at UFO Showcase Event – “Latest innovation in Small Flying Objects” at the Royal Geographical Society

During the UFO final showcase event in London, 29.11.2022, UFO project partners agreed to continue to work together to ensure the continuity of the project’s achievements and successes into the future.

About UFO:

The European project UFO received €4.3 million from the Horizon 2020 programme of the European Commission out of which €3.6 million was dedicated to support SMEs through direct financial support and services provided by the UFO partners. Present in 5 different countries (Bulgaria, France, Greece, Romania and United Kingdom) UFO succeeded in financing 66 SMEs providing innovative solutions on the targeted emerging industries.

UFO Contacts:

Aerospace Valley (coordinator):

Mr. Thaddé BOUCHARD, +33 5 61 14 58 07, bouchard@aerospace-valley.com

Webpage https://www.ufoproject.eu/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/UFOProject2

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ufoproject2

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/69253612/ 

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ufocommunity7691

UFO Consortium:

Cluster partners:

• Aerospace Valley, France
• Minalogic, France
• ICT Cluster Bulgaria                     
• Cluj IT, Romania,                                   
• Corallia, Greece
• Finance Innovation, France
• Marine South East Limited, United Kingdom
• Knowledge Transfer Network Limited [KTN], United Kingdom and
• Associated Partner: Climate–KIC United Kingdom