Finnish state-owned research institute VTT, and drone company Manna Air Delivery are launching a joint research initiative aimed at developing safe, scalable and sustainable uncrewed air traffic.
The project will explore how drone transport can support, for example, healthcare logistics and help city centre businesses expand their services.
A key focus of the project is to develop safety and airspace management solutions that enable large-scale adoption of drone deliveries in Finnish urban environments. Manna Air Delivery is already delivering groceries in Espoo, Finland and will be expanding into other Northern European territories.
The latest project is planned for the Finnish Housing Fair in summer 2025. The aim is to explore the use of drones as a logistics solution, particularly in suburban areas.
While early drone deliveries have focused on pizzas, groceries and burgers, a central aim of the VTT/Manna partnership is to assess how drones can be applied to mission-critical services, such as logistics between health clinics and hospitals. The joint goal is to create solutions that support not only smart city services but also the public sector, including preparedness for pandemics and emergency response.
“When it comes to transporting samples or medical supplies, speed is key. Air delivery can often be both the fastest and most reliable option, especially in urban areas. In the future, using drones to carry blood samples between hospitals may become routine – and in times of crisis, even life-saving,” says Jussi Kangasoja, Senior Scientist at VTT, who is involved in the project.
The collaboration will also explore how different forms of robotics could be integrated. For example, combining ground-based robot couriers with drones in the same logistics chain. The project will assess where aerial transport offers the greatest advantage and where traditional routes are more efficient.
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Image: Housing Fair in Oulu 2025 (Finnish Housing Fair)
