On October 8 and 9, BCN Drone Center hosted an exclusive, invitation-only event titled Barcelona Drone Days, bringing together leading stakeholders in the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) sector to explore the future of remote drone operations.

BCN Drone Center has hosted test flights for the Flarebright systems equipped with Embention’s safety-critical hardware. The successful flight tests permitted them to showcase the reliability and robustness of their advanced drone systems.

In a major step toward advancing global firefighting technology, 𝗔𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵, an international consortium of 16 companies, lead by CTTC and BCN Drone Center, has been named a semi-finalist in the prestigious XPRIZE 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. The four-year, $11 million initiative aims to accelerate the development of innovative tools to combat destructive wildfires and promote sustainable coexistence with natural fire cycles.

In June 2025, BCN Drone Center hosted a full month of specialized drone training sessions at its facilities, welcoming participants from across the globe. From drone applications to regulatory compliance, the center became a hub of hands-on learning and international exchange.

It all began well before the year 2000, when our founder, Jordi Santacana, was already experimenting with unmanned aircraft and aerial photography, long before drones became part of everyday conversation. In 2000, he founded CATUAV, one of Europe’s very first civilian drone companies, with a clear mission: to make aerial data solutions accessible, innovative, and high-value.

BCN Drone Center has just returned from the Drone World Congress in Shenzhen, and one word sums it up perfectly: WOW.

On the evening of April 23rd, the skies above the Port of Barcelona came alive in a dazzling spectacle. Six hundred drones took flight, moving in perfect synchronization to paint glowing patterns and shapes against the night sky. The result? A breathtaking aerial performance that mesmerized hundreds of cruise passengers and onlookers gathered along the waterfront.

BCN Drone Center participated in XPONENTIAL Europe 2025 in Düsseldorf, presenting cutting-edge solutions in BVLOS operations and autonomous drone missions. The event highlighted key collaborations and milestones for the drone sector.

In February 2025, BCN Drone Center successfully carried out a maritime drone delivery operation to the Columbretes Islands, a protected natural area in the Mediterranean Sea. The mission was conducted for the public company Tragsa, with support from Murcia Drones.

BCN Drone Center has recently completed a series of major infrastructure upgrades to enhance its testing, training, and operational capabilities. These improvements are designed to support a growing number of drone operations and provide an even better experience for clients, partners, and students.

We’re proud to announce that BCN Drone Center is establishing itself as one of the first Designated Entities in Spain.

In September 2024, BCN Drone Center welcomed once again, different international groups for tailor-made training programs on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). These courses addressed the growing demand for specialized drone applications across key industries such as agriculture, mapping, and surveying.

CATUAV will take part at the ATHENA project, a European project co-funded by the Programme ChipsJU that will last or 36 months, starting from 1st September 2024, when we attended the kick-off meeting in Grenoble.

This June, BCN Drone Center becomes a hub of knowledge and innovation in drone technology, hosting a new edition of its intensive training program. Under ideal weather conditions and in a unique learning environment, professionals from various backgrounds come together to build skills, share insights, and experience hands-on UAV training at its best.

This year, 2024, marks a special milestone for us: the 10th anniversary of our test site inauguration, the BCN Drone Center.