Romanian group Teamnet works with Airbus on a new drone

Romanian IT&C group Teamnet will work with Airbus Defence & Space on a new drone called Signus, according to a company statement. The drone was designed to operate at a maximum speed of 230 km per hour, and can reach a height of 3,000 m. Teamnet is actively involved in the UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) technology research and development, its objective being to contribute to the design and integration of innovative solutions for the collection of accurate data in real time from the air. The company develops and integrates several elements, such as the onboard computer, the system needed to collect data, the computerized navigation system, and the air platform. Airbus Defence & Space will provide the solution for the secure transmission of broadband data and the mission system, as well as its expertise in integration and operation. The drone prototype can operate on a distance of 200 km over the Black Sea, to ensure sea and land border safety, according to Bogdan Padiu, CEO Teamnet Group. The drone will be able to carry out complex actions of monitoring and collecting data in real time from the ground, with great benefits in areas such as emergency situations, agriculture, environment, transport or energy, as well as national and border security. For example, Signus will be able to collect real-time data in emergency situations such as fires, floods or landslides, will supervise and monitor the environment and climate change, the flora and fauna in protected areas, the pollution levels in the atmosphere, and critical infrastructures. “We work with academic research institutions such as aerospace, automation, electronics, and computer science faculties because, with them, we want to overcome the current limitations of the technology and put Romania back on the map of countries with tradition in aviation and in the UAV technology,” said Bogdan Padiu, who is also the group's majority shareholder. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Black Sea Trade & Development Bank (BSTDB) own minority stakes in the company. Teamnet Group, which is one of the most important IT&C integrators in the region, is also working together with telecom group Orange on the implementation of a project for the research and development of next-generation emergency services in Europe. The two companies are part of a recognized international consortium which will develop the NEXES Action (Next Generation Emergency Services). Teamnet invests more than 10% of its turnover to research and development projects annually. The group had a consolidated turnover of EUR 93 million in 2014. Romanian IT&C group Teamnet aims for EUR 100 mln in revenues by 2016 on international expansion, plans future IPO Seven Romanian companies make it on Deloitte’s EMEA Fast 500 list for 2014