en.Wedoany.com Reported - UK drone company Drone Major has entered into a strategic partnership with public sector technology firm Contract Finder Pro, integrating the latter's AI-assisted procurement technology into Drone Major's managed procurement service platform to help defence and drone industry suppliers more efficiently identify and secure government contract opportunities.
Under the agreement, Contract Finder Pro's AI procurement technology will be integrated into Drone Major's managed procurement service platform. Drone Major claims the platform is the first of its kind in the global drone industry, and the move aims to simplify access to the public sector market for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the defence, drone, and robotics sectors.
The two companies stated that, following the collaboration, suppliers using the Drone Major platform will be able to identify relevant procurement opportunities faster and submit bids with greater efficiency, thereby reducing the administrative burden previously associated with browsing multiple government procurement portals.
Drone Major noted that many SMEs have historically struggled to bid for large public sector contracts due to the difficulty of locating and managing opportunities within complex procurement environments. By integrating Contract Finder Pro's technology, the company hopes to improve the visibility of existing contracts and increase the proportion of SMEs participating in major defence and infrastructure projects.
Robert Garbett, founder and CEO of Drone Major, said the move will help address long-standing market access barriers. He stated that the UK's defence and drone industry is driven by innovative SMEs, but too many public sector opportunities are obscured by bureaucratic processes. By integrating Contract Finder Pro, the company is transforming suppliers' ability to identify, secure, and compete for government contracts. He added that this partnership will unlock greater SME participation in major public sector projects, strengthen the UK's defence supply chain, and accelerate industry innovation.
The announcement comes amid a period of growth in the global drone and robotics market. Drone Major cited forecast data indicating that the industry's size could expand from £55 billion in 2024 to £121 billion by 2030, creating substantial opportunities for UK technology companies and manufacturers.
The partnership also comes against the backdrop of increased UK government investment in defence and a growing focus on autonomous technologies. The UK's recent defence spending plans include additional funding support for defence capabilities, with drones expected to play a more significant role in future military operations and security applications.
Drone Major's supplier platform is built around a business-to-business (B2B) marketplace, connecting buyers with suppliers from a vetted international drone and robotics ecosystem. The company stated that with the introduction of Contract Finder Pro's procurement data and AI capabilities, the platform will provide clients with end-to-end project support covering the entire supply chain, including supplier assessment, supplier selection, compliance requirements, project management, logistics, quality control, and final delivery, as well as support for regulatory approval processes, including beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations when required.
The company believes the enhanced platform will create a more streamlined pathway for SMEs to enter the public sector supply chain, while also helping procurement agencies access the specialised expertise and innovation of the UK's rapidly expanding drone and robotics industry.
