Brussels Airport wants a leading role in the development and application of innovative solutions using drones as it plans to buy a 30 percent stake in manned and unmanned aviation campus and incubator DronePort.

The development of the facility, located at the former air force base of Sint-Truiden, started in 2013, and DronePort wants to stimulate research and innovation by creating an ‘ecosystem’ for the drone and advanced air mobility sector.

This so-called ‘ecosystem’ will include both a regional airport and various services, including a campus, a drone test site and an incubator for companies wanting to develop in the drone industry.

Brussels said the ‘contemplated’ capital increase will make it possible for DronePort to further focus on the development of the infrastructure and ecosystem and expand it to a drone airport with international allure.

DronePort is an initiative of the Limburg Investment Company LRM, the city of Sint-Truiden, POM Limburg and JK Invest. The transaction will have to be finalised and approved by relevant competition authorities and respective governing bodies, which is expected to be completed by mid-2023.