EuroUSC Italia, founded by Deep Blue and Filippo Tomasello in 2014, joins Unifly, the European leader in drone traffic management. This move strengthens Italy’s presence in the European UAS sector. The team will remain based in Rome, and Deep Blue will continue its work on Human Factors and user-centred design.
Unifly acquires EuroUSC Italia: Italian drone innovation takes flight across Europe
EuroUSC Italia, one of the most solid and innovative players in the Italian drone landscape, officially became part of Unifly, the Belgian company and global leader in drone traffic management. An acquisition marked by continuity, vision, and growth. “This is not a quick financial deal, but a project fully aligned with our DNA” emphasises Simone Pozzi, CEO of Deep Blue. “The existing team will be retained and expanded, and the company’s operational headquarters will remain in Rome. The goal of this acquisition is to strengthen what has already been achieved and to continue, with a European perspective, contributing to the safe and sustainable development of air mobility. Deep Blue will remain the key partner for Human Factors and User-Centred Design in the drone sector.” In short, the horizon is shifting – but the roots remain strong.
From research to market: the birth and evolution of EuroUSC Italia
EuroUSC Italia was founded in 2014 as a joint venture between Deep Blue and Professor Filippo Tomasello, a flight engineer with decades of experience in civil aviation regulation and safety. Established to address the regulatory gap in the emerging drone market, EuroUSC Italia has, in just ten years, earned a leading role in the field of drone regulation and safety. The company provides tailored consultancy and training services for the drone sector, focusing on risk assessment, certification, and regulatory compliance.
“We realised early on that the biggest barrier to the growth of the sector was the regulatory framework. The expansion of the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) market was being seriously held back by the lack of clear rules for certification and flight safety management,” explains Alberto Pasquini, President of Deep Blue. “So we created a new, specialised company and supported its development until it became an international point of reference.”
“Our journey began with European research projects, initially focused on training, which allowed us to grow technically by building and consolidating practical expertise,” continues Damiano Taurino, Head of Drones & Advanced Air Mobility at Deep Blue. “Most importantly, these projects helped us build a strong network and a community of expert professionals who gradually gained credibility and authority with international aviation bodies such as EASA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.”
The turning point for EuroUSC Italia came with the AW-Drones project, completed in 2021, which helped define rules, technical standards, and procedures for civil drones to enable safe and reliable operations in the European Union. “AW-Drones was a key project because it allowed us to connect with EASA and open a stable channel of collaboration. We began to take part in drafting regulations, a result that gave us credibility in the market,” recalls Taurino. From there, EuroUSC Italia began building its business around training and consulting: training as a capacity-building tool to create awareness and a safety culture; consulting to support operators in designing and managing their operations in compliance with regulations. “The evolution of EuroUSC Italia – from research projects to market services – was strongly driven by the sector’s regulation and standardisation, with a particular focus on safety, which immediately became a key driver. We felt the urgency to spread a safety culture in an emerging sector like drones, where this aspect was still largely missing,” adds Pozzi.
The Strategic Role of Deep Blue in EuroUSC Italia
Deep Blue played a key role in the creation and development of EuroUSC Italia, contributing both financial investments and human resources.
“The synergy between the two organisations has been continuous and productive,” says Taurino. “Deep Blue provided EuroUSC with ‘incubator’ services that a startup could not have afforded on its own: networking, participation in European projects, business development, communication, administration, support in training and research projects. This allowed EuroUSC to fully focus on developing its specific expertise. At the same time, EuroUSC represented an opportunity for Deep Blue to expand its portfolio in the drone sector.”
An opportunity that will grow further with the acquisition by Unifly. “The synergies that once connected Deep Blue and EuroUSC Italia can now expand on a European scale,” Taurino continues. “Deep Blue will remain Unifly’s point of reference for Human Factors and Human-Centred Design, and our services – currently aimed mainly at Italian clients such as Leonardo or the Fire Brigade – can now reach the European market.”
A Replicable Business Model
The “Deep Blue–EuroUSC Italia” model shows that highly specialised organisations can grow and evolve when supported by cross-functional expertise and strategic vision. It’s a successful formula that can be replicated in other high-impact sectors.
“It’s a way to help vertical, specialised, and focused organisations grow by supporting them with horizontal services (networking, funding opportunities, administration, strategic vision), and then, once they are mature, enabling a natural and sustainable transition without disruption,” concludes Pozzi. “It’s a strategy aligned with Deep Blue’s values: high-level expertise, sustainable development, and cultural impact.”
