Jun 3 2014
The Institute for Commercialization of Public Research (the Institute) announced today that it has finalized a funding agreement with Altavian, an unmanned aircraft solutions provider that integrates engineering and manufacturing with services for federal, state, local, and commercial clients.
The Institute works with Florida’s research universities and institutions to support new company creation and job growth, bridging early funding gaps and enabling them to attract additional private investment capital.
Altavian’s unmanned aircraft solutions, based on technology licensed from the University of Florida, simplify and increase the effectiveness of data collection in major industry sectors including natural resources and conservation, construction and infrastructure, precision agriculture, and inspection and monitoring. The company is focused on maximizing the value of unmanned aircraft by ensuring that clients can safely and efficiently collect data that is precise, accurate, and timely.
“Drones are a critical technology for our future, and Altavian provides solutions that meet the high quality standards that our clients expect for their data,” said John Perry, Altavian President and CEO. “In a data-driven world, this technology provides up-to-the-minute information to make better management decisions, increase public safety, and reduce environmental impact in applications as diverse as wildlife ecology to real estate development.”
“Altavian’s complete range of training, support and logistics services are taking the responsible use of unmanned aircraft technology to a new level,” said Jamie Grooms, CEO of the Institute. “There is an unmet need in the remote sensing market for better quality geospatial data, and the Institute is pleased to support Altavian’s efforts in this area.”
About the Institute
Formed by the Florida Legislature in 2007, the Institute for Commercialization of Public Research is a non-profit organization that works collaboratively with the technology licensing and commercialization offices of Florida’s state universities and private research institutions to leverage a $2B+ research base and form investable companies that create clean jobs in new industries that are driving the global economy. Over 100 new company projects have been identified across the state, and in the Institute deploys both company building and company funding programs to promising Florida companies. Twenty-nine companies have been funded since the program’s inception.
About Altavian
Altavian is the leader in producing Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) and services to provide higher quality geospatial data (photo, video, infrared and 3-D) to its customers. It has conducted the most data collection missions in the US civil market through its 18 active or pending Certificates of Authorization (COAs) from the FAA, which are a “license to fly” in a defined geographic area. Altavian's solutions are more cost effective, safer, easier and more precise than conventional remote sensing methods like manned aircraft, satellites or helicopters. The Company’s integrated business model (supplier, OEM, flight operations, data processing, analysis and dissemination) allows it to provide superior client solutions across multiple public and private sectors.