Denmark har announced a new major project for drone research.

Seeing a huge potential in the use of unmanned aerial systems (drones) within the country, five Danish universities are now collaborating in a platform for drone research that has the ambition of being top-class, reports

“Drones have an enormous potential for strengthening Denmark’s productivity and the basis for growth in the entire country. That potential must be developed and it is a great pleasure to be able to fund Denmark’s first national research infrastructure for drone technology,” said Minister for Education and Research Ulla Tørnæs, reports OWJOnline.

The program doesn't just entail a joint effort - it is backed by a grant of funding amounting to DKK 64 million, $9.6 million, at the initial stage. Some of that money will go to equipping the University of Southern Denmark with two new laboratories specially configures for drone research.

That a push for commercial drone technology is coming from Denmark is a result of the country's big offshore industry. Denmark is not only the largest exporter of offshore wind technology in the world, and a big domestic producer of offshore wind energy, it also has huge private shipping and oil interests in Maersk.

For all offshore industries, drones represent a promising substitute for expensive, cumbersome and irregular human inspections. Fro example, it is anticipated that drones may soon find commercial applications in managing corrosion in offshore wind farms. That could potentially mean huge savings for the industry, writes OWJOnline.