At DroneHorizon 2025 in Rotterdam, one message resonated clearly across Europe’s leading ports: the next phase of drone integration is about operational scale.
With stakeholders from government, industry, defense, and technology, the conversations in Rotterdam centered around how heavy cargo drones will transform critical infrastructure, not if. That aligns directly with NEX Aero’s belief that the future of maritime logistics isn’t in lightweight, consumer-grade drones, but in scalable, heavy-duty aerial systems built for high demands and harsh conditions.
“Lighter UAVs have opened the door,” said Emilia Torres, NEX Aero’s Head of Product Management, when visiting the summit in Rotterdam.
“But the real opportunity lies in heavier missions—where payload, range, and weather resistance matter. That’s the space we’re building for.”
Throughout the summit—held at the iconic Maassilo Rotterdam—four strategic themes shaped the agenda: AI-driven logistics, public safety, dual-use defense innovation, and scalable governance. For NEX Aero, these weren’t abstract panels—they reflected the challenges we’re solving in our product development and ecosystem partnerships.
With BVLOS corridors, cross-border alignment, and dual-use frameworks becoming more tangible, the urgency to deliver operationally viable drone logistics is rising fast. NEX Aero is not just watching that shift happen—we are engineering for it.
“Competing with legacy logistics isn’t a future goal—it’s our starting point,” added Emilia.
“And we are perfectly positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for resilient, scalable aerial systems that can actually deliver in real-world maritime environments. Success here will accelerate adoption everywhere else.”
Thanks to DronePort Rotterdam and the Port of Rotterdam for providing a platform that enabled high-impact dialogue and strategic alignment. For NEX Aero, DroneHorizon 2025 wasn’t just a look into the future—it was confirmation that we’re building in exactly the right direction.
