SME-RISE

Business Modelling Skills for Drone Entrepreneurs
FUNDED UNDER
Erasmus+
DURATION
01/12/2025 – 30/11/2027
BUDGET
€ 250 000

Project overview

SME-RISE aims to strength the competitiveness of SMEs in the drone sector, with a focus on Portugal, Greece and Cyprus, by bridging the gap between technical expertise and business development skills. 

Through a tailored vocational education and training (VET) curriculum, VR-based training, a practical guidebook and an online business platform, SME-RISE supports drone entrepreneurs in developing viable business models, improving their skills and growing their businesses.

Future Needs' Role

Future Needs authored the successful Erasmus+ proposal and now leads the development of an online business platform, as well as the project’s communication, dissemination and exploitation activities. We also contribute to the drone business curriculum and guidebook.

01

Call Topics Identification

Identified the relevant funding call and aligned the project concept with its objectives and requirements

02

Consortium Coordination

Brought together the consortium and coordinated partner contributions throughout proposal development.

03

Proposal Authorship

Led proposal writing, developing a clear narrative and structuring the application around the call’s evaluation criteria.

04

Human-centred research

Engaging stakeholders through co-creation workshops to identify needs and challenges in the drone sector and inform practical training solutions.

05

Design

Created the project’s visual identity, including its logo, website, brochure, Office and deliverable templates, ensuring consistent branding across all project activities.

06

Communication

Managing the project’s website, social media, newsletters, press releases, videos and public campaigns to engage SMEs and drone entrepreneurs.

07

Exploitation

Developing a strategy to ensure the long-term sustainability and uptake of project results, including future platform updates and opportunities for commercial and academic exploitation.

08

Capacity Building

Leading the development of an online business platform and contributing to educational materials, equipping drone SMEs and entrepreneurs with practical tools to develop viable business models.

Key Results and Outputs

Successful Erasmus+ Proposal

Future Needs authored the successful Erasmus+ proposal, bringing together European partners to address the gap between technical expertise and business development skills in the drone sector.

  • €250,000 project funding
  • 5 partner organisations 
  • 3 target countries: Portugal, Greece and Cyprus
  • 100+ drone professionals targeted for upskilling

Co-Creation Workshop on Drone Services Entrepreneurship

Future Needs faciliated a co-creation workshop at Airspace World 2026 in Lisbon, gathering industry insights to inform project’s capacity-building activities and online business platform.

  • 14 stakeholders engaged in participatory discussions
  • 2 thematic sessions 
  • 4.5/5 average quality rating

Project Branding, Visual Identity & Website

Future Needs developed project’s visual identity and website, establishing a consistent and recognisable brand across all project communication channels.

  • Project website
  • Project logo and brand guidelines
  • Brochure 
  • Office and deliverable templates
  • Social media templates
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