Umiya Buildcon Limited (BSE: 532376 | NSE: UMIYA-MRO and formerly MRO-TEK Realty Limited), a publicly listed dual-sector company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with A2000 Solutions Private Limited (A2K) to launch structured drone and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) training infrastructure under the Tamil Nadu Future Technology Hubs (TNFTH) initiative. This game-changing approach supports the Tamil Nadu government’s vision to position the state as a global hub for next-generation technologies and skilled talent. By embedding industry-aligned drone training within TNFTH, the partnership marks a strategic step in advancing skilling, innovation, and regional economic growth.
TNFTH is potentially Asia’s first integrated hub to unite seven cutting-edge emerging technologies: Artificial Intelligence, Cyber security, Drone technology, Electric Vehicles, Internet of Things (IoT) & sensors, 5G, and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). Under the partnership, hubs will be set up across 10 key locations in Tamil Nadu, starting with Tirunelveli. The vision behind TNFTH is to build a unified platform that fosters next-generation skilling, innovation, and entrepreneurship across emerging technologies. By integrating multiple high-impact domains into a single ecosystem, the initiative aims to equip India’s young workforce with practical, future-ready capabilities. The goal is to expand access to advanced technology education, strengthen regional talent pipelines, and support the development of a knowledge-driven economy, beginning in Tamil Nadu and with a potential for broader national impact.
Each specialised drone training lab will deliver immersive, industry-ready learning through a 100-hour blended programme that combines classroom instruction, live demonstrations and practical sessions along with soft skills equipping learners with market-relevant competencies and applied expertise in drone and UAV technology. The training initiative is tailored to meet the workforce needs of several industries where drones are becoming indispensable. The primary applications of drone and UAV technologies span agriculture mapping and measurement, construction and infrastructure monitoring, energy and utility inspection, security and surveillance, search and rescue operations, insurance risk assessment, logistics and delivery, real estate and media aerial videography, manufacturing and warehousing, environmental conservation, and telecommunications. These growing use cases are reshaping operational efficiencies and creating new roles that require both technical acumen and regulatory awareness.
“Drone and UAV technologies are moving quickly from niche to necessity across industries. Through this initiative, we’re creating a strong training foundation that focuses on real-world skills and practical deployment. If the model works well in Tamil Nadu, it can grow into something much larger, both geographically and across sectors. It also opens the door to working more closely with academic and government partners who are aligned on building future-ready capabilities,” said Aniruddha Mehta, Chairman and Managing Director, Umiya Buildcon Limited.
The TNFTH drone labs will contribute to Tamil Nadu’s larger vision of becoming a trillion-dollar economy by 2030. The Department of Information Technology and Digital Services aims to expand information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services (ITeS) into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities by leveraging local talent and infrastructure. The tech hubs are expected to support the creation of 25 lakh high-income jobs, foster a technology-savvy workforce, catalyse the start-up ecosystem, and drive innovation-led economic activity across local and regional markets.
“These drone labs are more than training facilities; they are gateways to producing a high-quality tech-enabled workforce for economic growth. The engagement is a clear reflection of our strategic focus on contributing to India’s technology and talent transformation. By aligning with the Tamil Nadu Government’s TNFTH initiative, we’re strengthening our presence in high-impact sectors and actively supporting the creation of future-ready infrastructure. This collaboration will enable us to deliver long-term value through capital-efficient, socially relevant initiatives that complement our diversified business strategy,” said Group Captain CS Krishnadas (Retd), Chief Operating Officer, Umiya Buildcon Limited.
Umiya Buildcon’s involvement demonstrates its commitment to building a strong presence in high-growth, technology-led sectors. Aligned with the company’s long-term focus on education and skilling, the partnership will enable Umiya to contribute meaningfully to India’s growing need for specialised talent. The drone training labs exemplify Umiya’s approach to value creation, delivering measurable impact through capital-efficient initiatives, while also strengthening its hybrid strategy and powering the company’s diversified business roadmap.
By fostering closer collaboration between stakeholders, government bodies, and academic institutions, this initiative will help create a high-impact ecosystem for applied research, innovation, and workforce readiness. It aims to lay the foundation for a scalable model of skill development in high-demand technology sectors. It will also reinforce Tamil Nadu’s leadership in technology education and advanced industrial capabilities, in line with the state’s broader vision to become a regional nucleus for next-generation industry growth.
