Portugal's Oeiras Valley Innovation Lab Launches National Drone Defence Hub

The Oeiras Valley Innovation Lab in Portugal is establishing a defence‑tech cluster focused on drones, aiming to become the country's first dedicated laboratory for drone research and real‑time prototyping. Coordinator Tiago Bastos said the centre will bring together academia, industry and the Armed Forces, hosting companies such as Beyond Vision and UAVision.

The project is presented as a strategic, national‑level initiative with international impact. Oeiras—often described as Portugal’s science and technology capital—already hosts NATO offices, Thales Edisoft, the Instituto Superior Técnico, and NOVA research centres, providing a strong ecosystem for defence innovation.