ChinaEU and the Shenzhen Low-Altitude Economy Industry Association have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build a cooperation platform for the low-altitude economy, one of the most promising emerging sectors at the intersection of mobility, logistics, public services, advanced manufacturing and smart-city innovation.
The agreement represents a structured initiative specifically focused on connecting Europe's regulatory and industrial environment with Shenzhen's fast-growing low-altitude economy ecosystem.
Luigi Gambardella (R), President of ChinaEU, and Zhao Qi, President of the Shenzhen Low-Altitude Economy Industry Association, jointly sign an MoU at the 2026 Shenzhen Low-Altitude Economy Development Conference and Strategic Cooperation Signing Ceremony. Photo courtesy of the event organizers
It comes at a pivotal moment, as Europe continues to develop its regulatory approach to urban air mobility, drones and low-altitude operations, and as cities and public authorities increasingly explore real-world deployment of new aerial services.
Under the agreement, the two organizations will work together to enhance mutual understanding of European and Chinese regulatory, legal, safety and certification frameworks, and to support pilot projects, trials and demonstration initiatives in selected European countries, in full compliance with applicable laws and, where relevant, subject to authorisation by the competent authorities. Potential applications range from aerial logistics and emergency and medical services to infrastructure inspection, environmental monitoring and urban air mobility.
The cooperation is grounded in a strong complementarity. Shenzhen has become one of the world's most integrated hubs for the low-altitude economy, combining innovation, advanced manufacturing, rapid prototyping and real-world deployment. Europe, in turn, is a high-value but regulation-intensive market.
Beyond market entry, the partnership can support the development of European capabilities — certification know-how, localization and joint industrial projects — contributing to the growth of a European industrial base in the sector.
Both sides recognize that the long-term success of the low-altitude economy in Europe will depend not only on technology, but on safety, transparency and public trust, including airspace integration, noise, privacy and the confidence of citizens and local communities.
In this context, ChinaEU may act as a European coordination and facilitation platform, supporting engagement with EU institutions, regulators and cities.
The Shenzhen Low-Altitude Economy Industry Association, for its part, will mobilize its member network and coordinate industry participation, with the aim of fostering long-term partnerships, localization and, where appropriate, a lasting industrial presence in Europe.
"The low-altitude economy will become one of the invisible infrastructures of the cities of the future," said Luigi Gambardella, President of ChinaEU.
"It is not only about drones or new forms of mobility, but about creating a new operational layer for logistics, public safety, emergency response, environmental monitoring, infrastructure management and urban services. Our objective is to build a concrete bridge between Shenzhen's industrial ecosystem and Europe's advanced, highly regulated market, based on safety, compliance and industrial value creation."
"Shenzhen has built one of the world's most complete ecosystems for the low-altitude economy, combining advanced manufacturing, innovation, testing capabilities, supply-chain depth and a wide network of specialized companies," said Zhao Qi, President of the Shenzhen Low-Altitude Economy Industry Association.
"Through this cooperation with ChinaEU, we want to help our member companies engage with Europe in a pragmatic, compliant and long-term way, and build meaningful industrial partnerships."
The MoU marks an important step toward closer Europe–China collaboration in low-altitude mobility, aerial logistics, emergency response and smart-city services as a new pillar of the digital economy.
