Emitel has signed a cooperation agreement with the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation (Łukasiewicz–ILOT). The partnership covers substantive collaboration within Emitel’s Airspace business line and strategic cooperation on the Droniada Future Forum 2026 by Łukasiewicz–ILOT. Together, the organisations aim to accelerate the development of the nationwide infrastructure required to support unmanned aircraft operations and further integrate Poland’s rapidly growing drone ecosystem.
Under the 12-month agreement, Łukasiewicz–ILOT will serve as the strategic knowledge partner for Emitel’s Airspace business line. The collaboration will focus on the exchange of expertise in aviation regulations, airspace management and the development of the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) market. As one of Europe’s leading aviation research and development centres, Łukasiewicz–ILOT specialises in the certification of unmanned systems and delivers international projects dedicated to the integration and deployment of UAS technologies within shared airspace.
Emitel will also participate in joint initiatives organised by the Institute, including this year’s Night at the Institute of Aviation and Droniada Future Forum 2026 by Łukasiewicz–ILOT. The partnership is designed to strengthen cooperation between industry and the scientific community, creating a platform for innovation and knowledge exchange.
“Emitel’s nationwide network of high-rise infrastructure provides a natural foundation for supporting the future development of unmanned aircraft systems. Our facilities are maintained and monitored around the clock, and we intend to bring that same level of reliability into the airspace to support a modern drone ecosystem. Our cooperation with the Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation creates a powerful synergy of expertise to develop our Airspace business line. By combining our infrastructure with the Institute’s specialist knowledge, we aim to help build a safe, resilient and future-ready environment for drone operations in Poland,” said Maciej Pilipczuk, Chief Executive Officer of Emitel.
A key pillar of the agreement is the development of regulatory and technical expertise. Both organisations will work together on legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as on analysing the implementation environment for systems designed to enhance the safety of unmanned aircraft operations in Poland and across the European Union.
“Our cooperation with Emitel on projects supporting the development of infrastructure essential for unmanned aircraft operations demonstrates how research and development initiatives undertaken at our Institute address genuine market needs. It also provides an opportunity to leverage the expertise of our notified UAS Certification Body, which operates under Regulation (EU) 2019/945. The body conducts conformity assessment procedures for unmanned aircraft systems in two key areas: Module B – EU Type Examination, and Module H – Full Quality Assurance,” said Cezary Szczepański, Director of the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation.
The continued growth of the drone services market requires navigating an increasingly complex legal and technological landscape. As the number of drone operations continues to rise, ensuring a safe operational environment is fundamental to the sector’s sustainable expansion. Leveraging its nationwide network of telecommunications towers, Emitel is implementing advanced airspace monitoring solutions. Today, the company’s drone traffic visualisation system is already operational at eight airports across Poland.
