The impacts of AeRoTwin are fourfold: I. Impacts set out in the work programme, II. Impacts on H2020 societal challenges, III. Impacts at national level, IV. Impacts at EU level.
Ad I)
Heaving on-board two internationally recognized research groups, leaders in the field of aerial robotics, significantly increased UNIZG-FER research excellence. A particular set of actions have been executed that enhanced reputation, attractiveness and networking of UNIZG-FER in the aerial robotics research field. We have organized staff exchange, experts visits, workshops and tutorials at leading conferences and robotics events, fair attendance, hands-on trainings, innovation management and technology transfer trainings, open doors for school kids and general public, and co-supervising of students. The project had a large impact on improvement of LARICS staff capability to prepare excellent proposals at national, EU and international levels. During the project lifetime LARICS have summitted 27 project proposals, with 14 accepted applications (>50%).
Ad II)
Aerial robotics research has direct and indirect impact on the sustainable agriculture. LARICS participated in UAV based crop/vineyard monitoring. With respect to secure, clean and efficient energy, aerial vehicles, designed in LARICS, are used for inspection of wind turbines. We anticipate that AeroTwin, in a very close future, will have a further impact on inclusive, innovative and secure societies as UAV will be used for persistent monitoring of areas for forest fires protection, national parks, forests, lakes and other large outdoor areas to ensure early detection and long-term forecasts on climate change.
Ad III)
Croatian Strategy for Smart Specialization (S3) presents a comprehensive assessment of an integrated, place-based economic transformation agenda that aims to increase the overall competitiveness of the country. S3 identifies “Strengthening national research and innovation infrastructure with public access and connecting with European infrastructures” as a key priority. AeRoTwin project have connected LARICS with the key EU research institutions, and thus directly impact this priority. S3 goes further to define four thematic pillars: Development of innovation system, Strengthening the innovation potential, Promotion of cooperation and knowledge transfer, and Human resource development; all of those pillars have been realized through AeRoTwin project. Furthermore, UNIZG-FER has the strategic goal to increase R&D capacity and quality of research and innovation to be transferred to the Croatian economy. Through AeRoTwin, LARICS contributed to achieve this goal.
Ad IV)
Strategic Research Agenda (SRA), is the key document for European robotics community that lays down a path to fulfill the EU 2020 strategy. SRA defines the key high-level research priorities - SRDs defined in AeRoTwin project directly contributed to all of them. Raising LARICS research excellence contributed to promotion of the South-east EU area into a world expert in aerial robotics, which in turn benefited to European world leading position in all key robotic technology areas. Advancing research capabilities of LARICS, together with innovation management trainings, resulted in increased number of collaborations with industry, commercialization agreements, and number of innovative products and services.
