From maritime rescue to environmental monitoring, six Danish companies have received funding through the first round of the APUS programme.
Good news has landed for six Danish SMEs developing innovative unmanned systems. With the APUS programme, Odense Robotics and CenSec aims to help companies move faster from prototype to market. And the potential in the industry is already strong – and growing rapidly.
“With the APUS programme, we want to help Danish drone and robotics companies bring their solutions into real-world use faster — especially in light of the war in Ukraine, where the demand for drone technology is urgent and growing. These companies have technologies that can save lives, monitor critical infrastructure, and operate in high-risk environments. But they need access to test environments, market clarity, and the right framework for growth. That’s exactly what APUS aims to provide.”
Different projects with a shared goal
The six funded projects span a variety of applications – demonstrating the flexibility and real-world impact of unmanned systems across sectors.
One of the companies receiving support is Robotto from Aalborg, which develops AI- and computer vision-based technologies for autonomous drones. Their solution processes data directly on the drone – known as edge computing – allowing it to operate fully autonomously in real time, without the need for human input.
With support from the APUS programme, Robotto can now accelerate its outreach and demonstrate its technology more widely.
“This grant means a lot to us. It gives us the ability to meet with potential customers and show them how the technology works in practice – something that’s essential for building serious commercial relationships,” explains Kenneth Richard Geipel, Co-founder and CEO of Robotto.
Bringing ideas to market – faster
Hecto Drone ApS, based in Hasselager, develops high-performance UAVs designed for long missions and heavy lifting – ideal for tasks such as industrial inspections, cargo transport, and long-range surveys.
The company saw the APUS programme as a strong match for their ambitions, particularly because of its focus on helping technologies reach the market faster.
We came across the APUS programme and immediately saw its relevance – especially in light of what’s happening in the world right now. It clearly stood out from other soft funding programmes, which often focus on very early-stage technologies. APUS, on the other hand, is much more go-to-market oriented.”
With the funding, Hecto Drone ApS is now ready to take the next step in bringing their solution to meet market demand.
“We have a concrete market demand and a drone solution to be advanced. The challenge is to build a drone that can lift more – it sounds simple, but it’s not. With support from APUS, we now have the opportunity to try it out,” says Andreas Siggaard, CEO in Hecto Drone ApS and adds:
“If the solution proves right, it means our future product can reach the market faster. It helps us speed up the development of the company and accelerate overall.”
About APUS – Tailored support for real-world needs
APUS (Accelerating Program Unmanned Systems) provides Danish SMEs with funding, expert guidance, and access to test facilities and markets. Each company follows a tailored acceleration track developed by Odense Robotics and CenSec, aimed at supporting technologies with potential in defence, security, and related sectors.
The programme is particularly relevant in light of current global challenges, including the war in Ukraine, where Danish drone and robotics companies are already making a difference. APUS helps scale these efforts by supporting solutions such as mine clearance, critical infrastructure monitoring, and other high-impact applications – across drones, mobile robots, and other unmanned systems.
The six companies are:
– Robotto
– Runiqo
– Hecto Drone
– Monopulse
– MDSI
– Dana Dynamics
The APUS programme is funded by Virksomhedsudvikling Danmark
Learn more
Would you also like to receive funding through APUS? Reach out to Gert Taul Pedersen (gertp@odenserobotics.dk) for further details.