Apply for our IAS Business Academy – Round 2

What is the program?

Tailored 12-month growth programme for Estonian, Finnish and Swedish companies of innovative aerial services (IAS).

What do we offer?

Academy program (January to December 2027) consisting of:

• implementation of cross-border demo projects in cooperation with end-users;

• 1:1 business development and IAS expert support from international experts;

• study and trade missions in Sweden, Finland and Estonia;

• participation at IAS industry events and fairs in Europe;

• online thematic workshops;

• networking between Finnish, Swedish and Estonian IAS companies and stake-holders.

The program will support the growth of each participating company with up to 15000 EUR.

Who can apply?

IAS companies, which:

• Are registered in area of the Central Baltic Programme in Estonia, Finland or Sweden *

• Are preferably founded in 2019 or later, in exceptional cases in 2016 or later **

• Operate in the IAS sector

• Focus on civil or dual-use solutions

• Are in the start-up or scale-up phase

• Have market-ready solutions

• Aim to expand to international markets

• Are ready to commit themselves to the 12-month programme

• Are ready to cover up to 20% of their direct costs (1:1 expert support, implementation of demo projects, participation at international events and study trips).

* In exceptional cases SMEs with legal address in Finland or Sweden, but outside Central Baltic programme area, can apply. More information is asked from such companies in the application form.
**10% of the Academy participants can be older than 7 years.

Call timeline

• Application deadline: 19 November 2026

• Interviews with potential candidates: 30 November to 9 December 2026

• Announcement of selected companies: 15 December 2026

• Start of the Academy (Batch 2): January 2027

Academy calendar 2027

The participating companies can use their support funding for the following.

• study trips to Finland (February), Estonia (March) and Sweden (October);

• participation at fairs and IAS industry events, such as Amsterdam Drone Week (March), UAS Forum Sweden (May) and International Drone Show (Denmark, June);

• cross-border demo projects in Estonia, Finland, Sweden or elsewhere: throughout the year;

• Receiving 1:1 expert support: throughout the year.