Increasingly, DroneUA’s expertise is becoming the basis for international technological dialogue that brings together engineering communities, academic institutions, and future industry leaders. Through systematic engagement with leading universities worldwide, the company builds sustainable links between Ukraine’s technological ecosystem and the global academic environment. One such point of technological diplomacy was the dialogue at University College London — focused on the role of technology as a key instrument for Ukraine’s recovery, the formation of a new economy, and the strengthening of its presence in the global technological space.
As part of a lecture for students from various faculties — from STEM disciplines to Political Science — DroneUA co-founder Valerii Iakovenko presented the systemic importance of technologies, particularly in Ukraine’s long-term development. The foundation of the discussion was real-world experience in integrating robotics and autonomous solutions into manufacturing, infrastructure, and industrial processes.
In 2024, Ukraine reached unprecedented scales in the production of unmanned solutions — over 5 million drones per year. Around this industry, a centralized robotics ecosystem has formed, uniting more than 700 companies and over 600,000 engineers and technical specialists. A key feature of this model is full-cycle production with localized component supply chains and its own manufacturing base. In effect, Ukraine has become the only democratic state that has managed to concentrate all key elements of such production within its own borders.
It is precisely this accumulated expertise and Ukraine’s strong position in applied technologies for agriculture, geodesy, automation, manufacturing, the creation of digital twins, and robotic solutions for real-world applications that have become the foundation for rapid industrial scaling.
“We are already an example for the entire world in terms of the use and development of technologies. And what is important — even despite the current explosive growth of the drone industry, Ukraine had and continues to hold leading positions in many industrial applications long before the onset of full-scale challenges,” Valerii Iakovenko shared with the students.
University College London, which consistently ranks among the world’s top 10 universities according to QS and THE rankings, is known for its close integration of science and industry. Thanks to its interdisciplinary approach, the environment shapes a new generation of engineers, scientists, and policy-makers capable of working at the intersection of technology, economics, and societal processes. The university brings together dozens of research centers and is part of London’s innovation ecosystem, where solutions are created at the junction of engineering, economics, and public policy.
It is precisely in such an environment that DroneUA’s practical experience generates strong interest, demonstrating the transition of the role of technology to the scale of real economies. Leading universities increasingly turn to companies that not only research technologies but also work with them in complex production environments with a high level of responsibility for results.
“For years, DroneUA has worked with students not merely as an audience, but as future engineers and leaders who will very soon be making decisions with real impact. We consciously share practical experience and show how technologies work beyond laboratory settings. Such an exchange of knowledge is part of our responsibility and a contribution to the development of modern technological education. It is a great honor for me to receive an invitation and speak at a university that ranks among the top 10 best in the world,” Valerii Iakovenko noted.
The dialogue with UCL students confirmed that Ukrainian engineering and robotics expertise is already being regarded today as a relevant part of the global technological discourse. Therefore, DroneUA continues to develop the technological ecosystem, combining experience, manufacturing, and strategic vision—and sharing it with a new generation of technological leaders.
The company expresses its gratitude to the organizers and the Ukrainian community of the UCL Ukrainian Society, in particular to President Sofia Shidlyk and Vice President Sofia Dykhtyarenko, for the invitation and the opportunity to take part in shaping a modern educational dialogue at the intersection of science, technology, and real industrial experience.
