Lancashire Innovation Drone Zone (LIDZ)

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Is your business already developing products or services for the drone sector? Or do you want to find out how you can get involved in this rapidly growing new marketplace? The Lancashire Innovation Drone Zone (LIDZ) project team can help you.

What we do

We offer business assistance as well as technical and engineering support. We can advise on how the use of drones can help you develop and take new products to market, boosting your growth. Our specialist team of drone pilots, robotics specialists, and hardware and software engineers can help accelerate your product development activities and create lasting research collaborations to help you in the long term.

This project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with a grant allocation of £1.85M and is delivered by UCLan.

Based in our £35m Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC), the LIDZ project team brings together expertise across all aspects of drone technology and development.

We support Lancashire SMEs to unlock the potential of utilising drone products in their business. We can help you understand how drones and drone-related technology can help streamline processes, save costs and increase safety. Drone services can also support the design, prototype and testing of new products to improve profitability.

What are the benefits to your business?

Support from world-leading experts in drone technologies
Access to our state-of-the-art drone facilities. With over £1.4m of the latest technologies for design, prototyping, simulation, and flight-testing equipment
Access to our flight test airstrip located close to our Preston Campus
Being part of a regional cluster of technology manufacturers, research organisations, supply chain and end-users
Advice and referrals to other University and locally delivered support programmes

How is the support delivered?

The LIDZ team delivers support through a series of specialist workshops and technology demonstrations. So we tailor our support to individual needs.

Alongside in-depth one-to-one support, we can also assist with:

Raising awareness of the opportunities and benefits of developing and adopting drone technologies
Technology audits and case-use studies to help you accelerate your project
Drone-related Research and Development (R&D) which could include support with design, simulation, systems integration, prototype development and flight testing
Flight and safety case development
Growing your network of contacts in the sector
Referrals to a wide range of support for funding and business support

Who are these drone-related services for?

The LIDZ project is available to Lancashire-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs), employing 250 employees or less. your business must also show either an annual turnover that is equal to or less than 50million Euros or a balance sheet total that is equal to or less than a 43million Euros.

If your company doesn't fit these criteria, please contact the team to discuss alternative avenues for support and collaboration.

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As the government funding for this project ended on 30 June 2023 please contact our Business Enquiries Team or call us on +44 (0) 1772 895500. We can discuss with you what other options may be available to you to support you. This could be in your research, development, training and consultancy needs.

Businesses across Lancashire & the North West, specialising in the development of innovative drone technologies, have received a boost, thanks to funding grants
Thursday 20 May 2021
The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has unveiled the world’s first graphene skinned plane at an internationally renowned air show.
Monday 30 July 2018
Engineering Innovation Centre
The (EIC) Engineering Innovation Centre engages directly with industry and provides students with real-world experience.