Lancashire Innovation Drone Zone (LIDZ)

Supported by

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 we can help accelerate your product development activities and create lasting research collaborations to help you in the long term.

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.

Gallery 01 / 15

  • Head and shoulders photo of Professor Darren Ansell stood in front of an unmanned aerial vehicle

    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
  • Juno with some of the UCLan aerospace engineering team

    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
  • The UCLan Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC)

    Engineering Innovation Centre

    The (EIC) Engineering Innovation Centre engages directly with industry and provides students with real-world experience.

Contact our team

Prof Darren Ansell (Project Lead)
Mr Dave Jones (Business Engagement Manager) 

Email: lidz@uclan.ac.uk