The development of unmanned aerial systems (UAV) technologies has accelerated significantly in recent years. Drones have become not only an important element of modern armed conflicts and the defence sector, but are also increasingly present in the everyday functioning of cities. During Droniada Urban Forum 2026 in Katowice, the discussion clearly shifted from military applications to civil and urban use cases. The event was attended by representatives of key institutions and environments shaping the UAV market, including the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency, the Civil Aviation Authority, and the Silesian University of Technology, as well as representatives of public administration and companies developing and manufacturing unmanned systems.
The event was organized by the Fundacja Instytut Mikromakro in cooperation with the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis, which acted as a key partner. The importance of the forum was further emphasized by the involvement of public institutions and industry partners connected with the development of the UAV market and implementations at the municipal level, and among the speakers were experts responsible for regulations, drone traffic management, and technological deployments – which allowed the market development to be viewed from both operational and systemic perspectives. Representatives of industry also participated in the discussions, including Flytronic (WB Group), which highlighted the strong link between UAV development and the dual-use sector as well as real-world technology deployments.
UAV and dual-use systems – a direction for the development of the drone market.
During the meeting at the International Congress Centre in Katowice, it was emphasized that UAV systems are already being used in many areas: from infrastructure and traffic monitoring, through public safety operations, to support for emergency services. Specialized applications are also becoming increasingly important – such as urban heat island analysis, environmental operations, and medical logistics, including the transport of AED devices and life-saving materials. Importantly, as highlighted by the speakers, drones are already actively used in Silesia by fire services and municipal guards. This means that the technology is no longer in the pilot phase but is becoming an integral part of urban management and crisis response systems.
One of the key topics was also the future – both in terms of technology and urban space organization. Discussions focused on the need to build Drone Service Centers, the development of unmanned traffic management systems (UTM), and how cities should prepare for the growing number of UAV operations. This requires not only infrastructure and regulations, but also data integration, system interoperability, and cooperation between institutions. Another important aspect discussed during the forum was the development of dual-use solutions, which are applied both in the civil sector and in operations of uniformed services and the military. This direction of development further drives demand for reliable, durable, and lightweight structures.
Prepreg-based composite materials for UAV – a key element of modern structures.
From a technological perspective, we clearly see that the growing importance of UAV directly drives the development of materials and manufacturing methods, while the development of UAS systems generates increasing demands on structural materials and production processes. Therefore, at New Era Materials, we develop advanced composites based on our own prepreg materials, which we precisely tailor to the requirements of unmanned systems – both in terms of weight and strength, as well as special properties such as flame retardancy or bio-based solutions. We leverage our R&D facilities and laboratories to ensure full control over the entire process – from material development to implementation. These capabilities are complemented by additive manufacturing technologies developed under our Fibometry brand, including 3D printing in polymers (SLS, MJF) and metals – including materials such as Inconel. This approach enables rapid prototyping and the production of advanced components for the UAV industry.
Droniada Urban Forum clearly demonstrated that drones are no longer a technological novelty but are becoming a key element of modern urban infrastructure. Their development will continue to accelerate in the coming years, and its pace will largely depend on how prepared cities are to integrate them – both technologically and organizationally.
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