INNOVATORS VISIT SWEDEN TO DRIVE SUSTAINABLE AVIATION

Fifteen innovators headed to Sweden as part of a visit organised by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency to meet potential partners and foster international technology collaboration.

The companies included Hardide Coatings at Bicester, Progressive Technology in Newbury, Didcot-based Qdot Technology, Reaction Engines in Abingdon and Bristolbased fibre-steering business, iCOMAT.

The week-long trip introduced the delegates to Sweden’s top aerospace companies, academics and research institutes and through workshops, specialist facility visits and networking, the delegates were able to identify common challenges and discuss new technologies.

Topics of discussion included new propulsion systems, all electric and hybrid engines, lightweighting and composite materials.

Innovate UK funded the visit through its Global Business Innovation Programme, a competitive scheme that aims to identify some of the UK’s most ambitious companies.

Sweden’s aviation sector turns over more than €2.6 billion annually and is a worldleader in the transition towards “sustainable aviation.”

In 2020 Sweden became the first nation to eliminate fossil fuels in airport operations and by 2030, it aims to make all domestic flights fossil fuel-free.

The UK is also very strong in this technology, with the third largest aviation network in the world and the second largest aerospace manufacturing sector.

StreetDrone opens new European o ce in Portugal

StreetDrone, the Oxford-based developer of automated vehicle technology, has opened new European offices in Portugal.

This will give the company access to European markets in a location with strong logistical links to the rest of the continent.

The Portuguese economy also offers a large talent pool of engineering resources.

StreetDrone wants to expand the sales and support of its advanced technology services and autonomous first-mile projects with ports and retail distribution centres. The company also wants to interest European retailers in its planned autonomous last-mile Pix-E delivery vehicles.

João Sebastião, the Department of International Trade’s Regional Director for Europe South, said “The UK is a nation of creators, like StreetDrone, who anticipate

Ten businesses exhibited their products including Stroud Valleybased Soap Folk and Malmesburybased manufacturing and project engineering company Alvan Blanch.

Alvan Blanch designs and supplies machines and integrated systems for processing agricultural crops and waste materials.

Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie was on hand to support Soap Folk and introduce the team to cabinet members including the International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan, as well as Victoria Prentis, Minister of State at DEFRA, and Jo Churchill MP.

Soap Folk founder Fiona McBryde said: “It was a surreal experience, particularly chatting to the Prime Minister but it was great to have an opportunity to show o our small business to a wider audience and to be able to fly the creative flag for the Stroud Valleys as well as UK small businesses.” what the future holds by accelerating it, turning science fiction into science fact and bringing innovation to life.”

Mike Potts, Co-Founder and CEO of StreetDrone said: “With our focus on autonomous engineering as well as the autonomous delivery market, Portugal has been selected based on its significant retailer and logistics market and its geographical position as a trading entry point to the rest of Europe.”

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