The iconic Fantova building at Prague’s Main Railway Station hosted the 10th anniversary edition of the Dronedge 2025 conference, organized by the Alliance for the Unmanned Aerial Industry (UAVA). This year’s two-day event was held under the auspices of Minister of Transport Martin Kupka and, for the first time, also President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel – a clear signal that unmanned technologies and their integration into airspace are becoming a national priority.
The conference attracted more than 50 speakers, 20 exhibitors, and hundreds of participants from industry, public administration, and academia. The central theme was U-space – Europe’s unified system for integrating drones into airspace – and the role the Czech Republic is playing in its deployment.
Jakub Karas (UAVA): Czech industry is ready, but we must proceed wisely
The opening address was delivered by Jakub Karas, President of UAVA, who thanked the audience for the enormous interest – attendance exceeded the hall’s capacity. He reminded participants that Czech industry is presenting itself as an active and visible player abroad as well: through DroneCon, 3DISE, the EUDIS hackathon, the Czech Journey to Space project (a government program launched in 2024 to boost the Czech space industry), and participation in the DroneShow in Korea, where drones are becoming part of children’s education and attracting mass attention.
Karas noted that in Korea, even small children are learning to fly drones from an early age and mastering the technology – something the Czech Republic will also need in order to build up a generation of skilled young pilots.
A major new theme are test sites (polygons) for drones, established in cooperation with Sokolovská uhelná, Fly in Diamonds and Veletrhy Brno. Their aim is to provide unified infrastructure and strengthen the ability of Czech industry to present itself abroad as one cohesive whole.
Karas also highlighted the changing perception of drones in connection with the war in Ukraine. Drones are now indispensable not only for the military but also for protecting critical infrastructure – from ČEPS and ČEZ to the Railway Administration. The Czech industry has both the technologies and the capacities to play an active role.
However, he warned against over-regulation: incidents must not lead to hasty decisions that would stifle innovation. “Before we start looking for answers, we must first ask the right questions,” Karas emphasized.
Martin Kupka (Ministry of Transport): a safe framework, not over-regulation
Minister of Transport Martin Kupka called drones one of the fastest-growing areas, combining artificial intelligence, civil industry, and defense. Experiences from Ukraine show how unmanned systems fundamentally change the nature of conflicts. “Today, a drone means power – and with it comes responsibility,” Kupka said.
Alongside military applications, he stressed the civil and cultural dimension: drones can serve infrastructure, logistics, and even art. The task of the ministry is to design U-space as a safe framework that reassures society without slowing innovation.
A practical step is the launch of the digital U-space map, which already shows restricted areas and helps make operations safer. Kupka also pointed out the three test sites for drones, which, as Karas had mentioned earlier, represent a major technological advantage for Czech industry and could in the future be linked with the space program, including rocket testing.
By the end of 2026, a legislative framework is expected to be in place, enabling technical countermeasures against unauthorized or hostile drones without slowing down civil development. Work is being carried out by an interministerial group spanning the ministries of transport, interior, and defense.
David Jágr (CAA): digitalization
David Jágr from the Civil Aviation Authority (ÚCL) noted that the Czech Republic already has 80,000 registered drone pilots. This scale cannot be managed without extensive digitalization. ÚCL is therefore working on adjustments to geographical zones (LKR310–LKR320) and expanding digital tools such as DroneMap, which simplify flight planning and operational oversight.
Jan Klas (ANSP): from safety to security, CIS+ as the foundation of future operations
Jan Klas, Director General of the Czech Air Navigation Service Provider (ŘLP), reminded the audience that the focus so far has been primarily on operational safety. Today, however, it is necessary to add security – protection against intentional threats and attacks.
ŘLP therefore welcomes the establishment of a coordination structure under the National Security Council and has been mandated to operate and manage the central information system CIS+, which is being developed by UpVision. This system will enable dynamic data exchange and provide a dashboard for zone managers, allowing them to adjust conditions in real time. CIS+ is initially being developed for state users, with private sector integration to follow.
“We must prepare for the era of RPAS and dynamic traffic management. A robust CIS+ is the key to ensuring the system can withstand crises,” Klas noted.
EASA: the Czech Republic as an example
Stéphane Vaubourg, U-space project manager at EASA, praised the Czech Republic for having a clear political supporter at the forefront of implementation – the Ministry of Transport. According to him, this is not a given in Europe; it is an advantage that provides the country with a clear vision.
He also highlighted the high level of Czech companies and universities actively working on U-space. Thanks to this, the Czech Republic has a genuine chance to become one of Europe’s leaders in implementation. The challenge, however, remains ensuring interoperability and avoiding fragmentation across EU member states.
Jakub Kraus (CTU): more questions than answers
Jakub Kraus from the Czech Technical University (CTU) offered a more cautious perspective. U-space, he stressed, is a vast and financially demanding topic, and therefore the university is focusing on narrower segments of practical implementation.
Kraus pointed to several key open questions:
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what data should be exchanged between systems and how often,
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how to ensure fair prioritization of flights,
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how to build the necessary technical infrastructure,
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and for which types of operations U-space is truly indispensable.
“So far, we have more questions than answers,” Kraus concluded.
UpVision (CSG Aerospace): CIS as the brain of Czech U-space
Libor Polanský, Chief Architect at UpVision, presented the Common Information Service (CIS), which forms the technological backbone of Czech U-space. CIS will manage data on geozones, authorizations, and drone identification.
The project is currently in the implementation phase, with full deployment expected in summer 2026. The system will be complete in 2027 after interconnection with certified U-space Service Providers (USSPs). CIS is designed as a modular and scalable platform (part of the MAIA – Connected Airspace Intelligence product line). Its development also involves CS Soft and Atrak, contributing elements of automation and artificial intelligence.
Day One Summary: strong foundations, but challenges ahead
The first day of Dronedge 2025 confirmed that the Czech Republic has strong foundations: a capable technological industry, state support, new test sites, a digital map, and a legislative framework in preparation.
At the same time, challenges remain: regulation, funding, infrastructure, public acceptance, technological convergence, and geopolitical dynamics. Across sessions, one warning was repeated: over-regulation could slow down the development of the entire sector.
Event Partners
Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic (ŘLP), Prague Airport, CSG Aerospace, Railway Administration, ČSOB Insurance, ESA, CzechInvest, Sony, Pramacom, Lidaretto, Zuri, and others.
A unifying thought echoed across many discussions:
Safety must not be a sticker attached at the end – it must be embedded into the system from the very beginning.
By: Katerina Urbanova, EIC ACE
