Seville is preparing to make a significant leap on the European aerospace map with the launch of Center for Innovation in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Urban Air Mobility (CUAM). This new technology space aims to become a central player in the development of drones and urban air mobility solutions, an area that is growing strongly in Spain and throughout the European Union.
With a coordinated commitment of the Andalusian Regional Government and the University of SevilleCUAM was created with the idea of ​​going beyond traditional academic research and becoming a direct bridge between the laboratory and companies, especially small and medium-sized ones, that seek opportunities in a sector with strong economic and employment potential.
Public investment and objectives of the new innovation center
The Ministry of University, Research and Innovation plans to allocate in 2026 five million euros additional to the CUAM of SevilleThese resources come from the ERDF Andalusia 2021-2027 Programme. This amount is in addition to the 15 million already committed since 2023, bringing the total funding for the creation and implementation of the center to 20 millones de euros.
This infrastructure is conceived as a high-level scientific environment for generate new knowledge in drone technologies and in urban air mobility, with special attention to unmanned aerial vehicles for civilian use. The focus is on the development of autonomous, intelligent and safe systems, capable of operating in complex urban environments without compromising safety or the environment.
One of the pillars of the project is the transfer of results to the productive sectorThe intention is that the advances achieved at CUAM will not remain confined to scientific publications, but will become concrete solutions for companies. To this end, a dissemination and transfer plan is being developed, specifically aimed at SMEs with a technological and industrial profile, who often lack their own resources to conduct advanced research.
With this approach, the Regional Government of Andalusia and the University of Seville seek Strengthen and diversify the Andalusian aeronautical industry, driving the transition towards higher value-added products and services linked to drones, urban air mobility and cleaner aviation, leaving behind the almost exclusive weight of the manufacture of traditional aerostructures.
Strategic location: Aeropolis and Tablada as the project's axes
The CUAM will be deployed in two locations with a strong tradition and technological weight: the Aerospace Technology Park of Andalusia (Aerópolis), in the metropolitan area of ​​Seville, and the Tablada barracks, a historic space linked to aviation that is being reoriented towards innovative uses.
In Aeropolis, the University of Seville has already acquired an industrial building for an amount of 814.677 eurosThis operation allows the building to be adapted to house part of the center's facilities. The building is currently being renovated, with work including the installation of specialized scientific and technical equipment.
At the same time, the academic institution has launched various tenders for the purchase of highly specialized equipmentThese administrative steps demonstrate that the project is in an operational development phase, beyond the initial investment announcements.
The deployment of the center will be carried out in phases, so that The different work areas will be implemented gradually.as the adaptation and equipment reception work is completed. The combination of Aerópolis and Tablada provides both laboratory spaces and areas suitable for operational training and flight activities.
State-of-the-art laboratories and flight operations base
The design of CUAM includes a series of specialized laboratories that seek to cover different technological needs of the urban air mobility and unmanned aerial vehiclesAmong the planned lines is a electric motor and modeling bench, intended to test and optimize propulsion systems for light aircraft and drones.
A laboratory for the study of sensorized structures applied to urban air mobilityThis will allow for the development and validation of solutions that integrate sensors into aircraft structures to monitor their behavior in real time. This type of technology is key to ensuring safe operations in urban environments.
Another work area will be a space dedicated to coatings and nanostructures geared towards UAM applicationsThe CUAM will cover advanced materials, protection against adverse environmental conditions, and aerodynamic improvements. In addition, the CUAM will include a clean propulsion systems laboratory, in line with European requirements for reducing emissions and noise in air transport.
The infrastructure will be completed with a flight operations and training headquarters This will allow for field testing, prototype trials, and training activities for technical staff, drone pilots, and other specialized professionals. In this way, the center aims to be a comprehensive environment where research, testing, and training coexist.
Andalusia on the European map of drones and air mobility
The push for CUAM is framed within a context in which Spain is among the top ten world powers in the field of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles. Within the country, Andalusia has established itself, according to the Strategic Plan for the Development of the Civil Drone Sector in Spain 2018-2021, as the second most relevant community In terms of the number of operators and pilots, it is second only to Madrid.
According to that document, the national total includes more than 3.000 drone operators, of which around 550 are based in AndalusiaOfficial forecasts indicate that the fleet of drones used professionally could exceed 51.400 aircraft in 2035 and reach the 53.500 in 2050 setups, with an estimated economic impact of 1.220 millones de euros The 2035 y 1.520 million in 2050.
In parallel, the European Commission projects that, within a horizon of about two decadesThe drone market could generate more than 100.000 jobs in the European Union, with an economic magnitude that would be around 10 billion eurosIn this scenario, Andalusia's position, with an expanding sector and continued institutional support, is perceived as particularly favorable.
The Andalusian Government highlights that the community has research talent, specialized companies and an institutional ecosystem which includes specific programs such as the Andalusian Aerospace Strategy. The CUAM is considered another piece of this network, aimed at strengthening the region's competitiveness against other European hubs of innovation in drones and air mobility.
A $72 million aerospace strategy and a growing ecosystem
The investment in CUAM is not an isolated movement, but rather part of a broader Andalusian aerospace strategy, in which the Ministry of University, Research and Innovation has articulated different programs and projects with European and regional funding.
Among the most prominent initiatives are SpaceInnova Andalusia, a Public Procurement of Innovation program endowed with 20 millones de euros, also within the framework of the Andalusia FEDER 2021-2027 Programme. Its objective is to identify and implement innovative pseudo-satellite solutions, with potential applications in areas such as emergency management, fighting forest fires, or environmental monitoring.
This line is joined by others 15 million euros from the ERDF for development of quieter aircraft with lower emissionsThis aligns with the European "Clean Aviation" initiative, which aims to transform air transport towards more sustainable models. These types of projects are directly related to the technologies that will be developed at CUAM, especially in the areas of electric propulsion and clean systems.
Furthermore, support continues for Center for Experimentation and Certification of Unmanned Aircraft (CEUS), located in Moguer (Huelva), which has received a injection of 17 million euros to consolidate itself as a benchmark in the certification and testing of drones at the European level.
If these items are added to the investment committed to the CUAM in Seville, the overall package allocated by the Andalusian Regional Government to strengthen innovation and knowledge transfer in the aerospace and unmanned vehicle sectors reaches 72 million eurosThis volume of resources creates a scenario in which the autonomous community seeks to strengthen its position in high-potential technological value chains.
Infrastructure network and Seville's role as an aerospace hub
Once CUAM is fully operational, it will be integrated into a aerospace infrastructure network which are already operating in Andalusia and which provide a context for collaboration and synergies. Among these centers, the following stands out: Advanced Center for Aerospace Technologies (CATEC), located in La Rinconada (Seville), specializing in robotic technologies, unmanned systems and solutions applied to industry.
Also part of this ecosystem is ATLAS Experimental Flight Center, located in Villacarrillo (Jaén), designed to carry out drone trials in controlled environments. This is in addition to the project itself. CEUS in Huelva, focused on experimentation and certification, which complements the testing and validation capabilities offered by the region.
In the field of entrepreneurship and business innovation, Seville has a incubator for technology-based startups In the space sector, linked to the European Space Agency (ESA), this initiative is jointly promoted by the Regional Ministry of Universities, the Seville City Council, and CATEC itself. This incubator serves as a support point for startups working on space and Earth observation solutions.
The infrastructure map is completed with the Integrated Aerospace Vocational Training Centre of La Rinconada, which provides specialized vocational training profiles in the sector, and with the Spanish Space Agency, whose headquarters are also located in Seville, reinforcing the city's role as a benchmark for spatial policies and projects at the state level.
In this context, CUAM is emerging as an institution destined to connecting university research, industry and governmentTaking advantage of the existing concentration of resources in Seville and its metropolitan area, this project will provide the sector with a specialized center for drones and urban air mobility in a region that already boasts significant experience and critical mass in the aerospace field.
The development of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Urban Air Mobility Innovation Center in Seville comes at a time when the Andalusian community has strengthened its position in the drone and advanced aviation sector, with public investments, specialized infrastructure, and a expanding research centersWith committed financial backing, its location in Aerópolis and Tablada, and a network of partners ranging from CATEC to the Spanish Space Agency, CUAM is shaping up to be a project destined to influence the evolution of urban air mobility and consolidate Seville as one of the landmarks of southern Europe in unmanned aerial vehicle technologies.
