Croatian innovation is helping drive the global drone industry

Osijek is hosting a two-day Drone Expo bringing together international drone manufacturers, Croatian companies, industry experts and technology enthusiasts to showcase the latest developments in unmanned aerial vehicle technology.

The event features demonstrations, expert conferences and workshops for children, highlighting the growing importance of drones across a range of industries and everyday applications.

Among the exhibitors are Croatian companies specialising in the production of drones and supporting equipment.

One of them is led by retired Croatian Army officer Milivoj Huceljuk, who developed military unmanned aircraft during the Homeland War and has since turned his focus towards civilian applications.

Huceljuk presented a drone designed primarily for border surveillance, monitoring migration movements and supporting smart agriculture, HRT reports.

Agriculture remains one of the sectors seeing rapid growth in drone use. Modern agricultural drones are now capable of crop spraying, seeding, pest control, land surveying and other precision farming tasks.

Davor Rac, Head of Precision Agriculture at Jerković, presented a drone with an 80-kilogram payload capacity, currently one of the largest capacities available in Croatia.

The drone can be used for crop protection and the application of liquid materials in agriculture, including fertilisers and other treatments.

Alongside industrial and agricultural applications, consumer drones also continue to occupy a significant share of the market.

These are widely used for aerial photography and video production across industries ranging from weddings to promotional content.

The expo has attracted hobbyists as well as business representatives interested in introducing drone technology into their operations. Visitors described the event as an opportunity to explore new technologies and future business development possibilities.

ORQA opens production facility in the USA

Osijek-based ORQA, best known for its FPV drones, is rapidly expanding production. With American partners, it is also launching it in the United States, starting in October of this year.

In order to be competitive in the programs of the US Department of Defense, complete production must be in the United States.

The production centre, located in Florida, covers 17 thousand square meters and has specialised drone assembly lines and other advanced production systems.

A total of 26 exhibitors are taking part in the Osijek Drone Expo, reflecting the continued growth of Croatia’s drone industry and its alignment with global technological trends.

The event is also showcasing Croatia’s first school drone league, a pilot project launched through a partnership between the Centre of Excellence of Split-Dalmatia County and Croatian technology company Orqa. Twenty Croatian primary schools are participating in the initiative.

(Photo: Grad Osijek)

Organisers say the drone industry is experiencing strong growth worldwide, with the focus of the Osijek event placed firmly on civilian applications and the expanding use of drones in everyday sectors.

“Osijek Drone Expo is an important conference that the City of Osijek has been supporting since its inception. This conference puts Osijek at the center of the Croatian, but also global technology story. Drones are definitely a part of our everyday lives.

They are used in everyday life, from the economy, agriculture, education, defense, to the fight against mosquitoes, which we introduced last year and which gave more effective results. We are proud of Osijek companies that compete in the largest world markets. It is our obligation to support them on that path,” said Osijek Mayor Ivan Radić at the opening.

(Photo: Grad Osijek)

As part of the programme, the expo will also host the final of the first Croatian school drone league, alongside a drone light show above Osijek’s historic Tvrđa district.