TU Dublin research to play key role in €3.8 million LIFT drone technology project
TU Dublin will play a leading role in the newly announced €3.8 million LIFT project, a major initiative funded through the Government’s Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) to accelerate innovation in drone logistics and advanced manufacturing. The project is designed to revolutionise drone logistics by advancing lightweight composite manufacturing and enabling large scale, commercially viable drone delivery systems.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless announced funding of €36.9 million for six additional projects under Call 7 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) in total. Announcing the funding, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke said:
These six projects demonstrate the power of disruptive technologies to solve real-world challenges—from improving patient outcomes to advancing quantum technologies, revolutionising logistics and reducing energy consumption. These projects not only drive cutting-edge R&D within industry but also support high-value jobs and the development of transformative technologies that will improve productivity and increase competitiveness.
The LIFT (Logistics Innovation for Flight Transport) project represents a partnership between research, innovation, academia and industry with TU Dublin Centre for Research in Engineering Surface Technology’s cutting edge research and knowledge with the practical experience of IONA Logistics and the manufacturing innovation of ÉireComposites, creating a powerful collaboration for Ireland’s drone future. The project aims to deliver next generation drone platforms that are lighter, stronger, and capable of extended range and payload performance.
At the heart of TU Dublin’s involvement is Dr Joseph Mohan, Senior Research Fellow at CREST Technology Gateway. His team will focus on enhancing the durability, reliability and manufacturability of composite materials that form the backbone of drone structures. Discussing the collaboration, Dr Mohan said:
This collaboration is an exciting step forward for Ireland’s emerging drone sector. Through LIFT, we’re addressing the practical challenges of scaling up drone production, from materials and coatings to how these systems perform in real-world environments. TU Dublin’s expertise in composite materials and surface technology will ensure the aircraft we help design can withstand the demanding conditions of everyday operation.
IONA Logistics is an Irish technology company pioneering integrated drone logistics and delivery solutions. The company focuses on developing safe, efficient, and environmentally sustainable systems for the transport of goods across short and medium distances. Speaking about the project, Founder & CEO of IONA Logistics, Etienne Louvet said:
Most drone systems today stop at the prototype phase. Scaling production means rethinking how we build - the materials, the assembly, and how all that ties into certification and operations. LIFT is about solving that. We’re reviewing materials and production techniques to make drones lighter, stronger, and easier to build, so logistics operators can use them at scale.
ÉireComposites is a world leading design, manufacturing, and testing company based in Galway, specialising in high-performance, lightweight composite structures for aerospace, renewable energy, and transport applications. Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of ÉireComposites Dr Tomás Flanagan said:
ÉireComposites is delighted to bring its experience in advanced composite manufacturing to the LIFT project. By combining our production expertise with TU Dublin’s materials research and IONA Logistics’ operational insights, we aim to develop drones that meet the highest standards of efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.
The first step for the project will be a detailed design and feasibility phase, during which the partners will refine the drone’s core structural and materials concepts. TU Dublin’s CREST team will lead early testing on new composite materials and surface coatings to ensure durability and performance, while ÉireComposites will begin developing prototype manufacturing processes that are readily scalable. At the same time, IONA Logistics will define operational requirements and real-world delivery scenarios to guide the engineering and ensure the system meets commercial needs from the outset.
This initial phase will lay the foundation for full scale prototype development and flight testing, paving the way for commercial deployment and regulatory engagement later in the project.
The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, administered by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, supports projects that bring research excellence and industry needs together to deliver breakthroughs with commercial and societal impact. The current round of funding will see almost €37 million shared among six projects nationwide, each aimed at positioning Ireland at the forefront of innovation in sectors such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing and green technologies.