The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reports today (January 13) that Hong Kong has teamed up with Nansha in mainland China to develop unified standards, policies and validation pathways for cross-border drone flights through joint tests and trials.
According to SCMP, the collaboration follows an accord signed on December 25 between the Hong Kong Productivity Council and Nansha’s International Advanced Technology Application and Promotion Centre (GBA).
The article notes that the partnership will “bring together academics, aviation stakeholders, drone and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) operators and research institutes from both sides to formulate aligned standards through a closed-loop model spanning technology development, scenario testing and industrial application”.
A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Productivity Council said Hong Kong could be positioned as an Asian hub for low-altitude economic development. Hong Kong and China have recently flagged the low-altitude economy as a national priority. The spokesperson expects the first batch of drone firms and institutions to apply for joining the joint sandbox as early as February.
SCMP says that sixteen partners are involved in the initiative, including Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and its Guangzhou campus, the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance, and the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
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SCMP: Hong Kong and Nansha target global drone benchmark in cross-border trials
Image: Nansha, China (Maperlui / Pixabay)