UVigo Aerotech

What UVigo Aerotech does

UVigo Aerotech is a student aerospace engineering association registered in Spain as ASOCIACIÓN ESTUDIANTIL UVIGO AEROTECH (NIF G01947654), operating from the University of Vigo's Ourense campus in Galicia. Founded circa 2019-2020 and the only Aero Design team in the entire Galicia region, it currently fields approximately 64 student members (the largest cohort in its history) drawn primarily from the Escola de Enxeñaría Aeronáutica e do Espazo (EEAE) aerospace engineering degree and the Escola Superior de Enxeñaría Informática (ESEI) computer engineering degree. The organization is structured around three project pillars: Áine, which designs and builds fixed-wing model aircraft and drones for competitions such as XtraChallenge and Air Cargo Challenge (aircraft to date include AZOR-0, CORV-0, MOBULA-0, LIGN-0, MIR-10, and Peregrinus); Solaris, a rocketry project developing water rockets, active-control prototypes, and solid-fuel propulsion (Fervenza, Fénix, Viradinha Mk1) targeting EuRoC; and I+D, a research and development line building an autonomous quadcopter with self-developed computer-vision-based obstacle detection.

Technical work spans aerodynamics, propulsion, structures and dynamics, and electronics, executed with CAD modeling, CFD and FEA simulation, and embedded C/C++ programming. Notable technical outputs include custom airfoil profiles (UVigo Aerotech 20 and 25), a modular solid-fuel rocket design with interchangeable motors and carbon fiber rings, an active control system proof-of-concept for rockets, and an autonomous quadcopter with proprietary computer-vision algorithms. The team does not sell commercial products or services; all activity is funded through approximately 30 corporate sponsors (including CATEC, Altair, Altium, Mouser Electronics, Gurit, Marine Instruments, and AerialWorks) and competition prize winnings. Revenue mechanics are therefore sponsorship-driven rather than transactional. The primary stakeholder community is University of Vigo engineering students seeking hands-on aerospace experience, with secondary engagement through school outreach, industry conferences (DevFest, JAI), and competition circuits across Spain and Europe.

Name

UVigo Aerotech

Legal name

ASOCIACIÓN ESTUDIANTIL UVIGO AEROTECH

Website

https://uvigoaerotech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UVigo Aerotech is a nonprofit student aerospace engineering association at the University of Vigo in Ourense, Spain, designing competition-grade UAVs, rockets, and an autonomous quadcopter across three project pillars, funded by approximately 30 corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Aerospace Engineering & Competition Team

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Aircraft (3721), Aircraft & Parts (3720), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Training & Light Sport Fixed-Wing Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

VTOL & Hybrid UAV Platforms (IMABAIAC), UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid) (IMABAIAO), NDT/Inspection & Testing Services (Aviation) (IMABALAJ)

Keywords

• Student aerospace engineering
• Model aircraft design
• Solid-fuel rocketry
• Autonomous quadcopter development
• Aerospace competition team

Headquarters

HQ city

Orense

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Sponsorships and Partnerships: The team operates primarily through corporate sponsorships. Companies provide financial support, materials, software tools, and services in exchange for brand visibility and association with a student engineering team. Sponsors listed include AerialWorks, Aeromedia, Altair, Altium, Atlanttic, CatSystems, Castro Composites, CATEC, Centum, CivilUAVs Initiative, CITI, ClipCarbono, Coasa, DesingToPrint, Escola Aeronáutica, Europrecis, Ferretería Pombo, Gurit, Las5J, Marine Instruments, Masque3D, MRF Solutions, Miragem, Mouser Electronics, Neovolk, Nort3D, OrenSanex, RC Innovations, Tecymak Galicia, Trimar, Uarx, Utingal, and Viajes Viramundo.
2. Competition Prize Winnings: The team earns recognition and prize money through participation in engineering competitions such as XtraChallenge, Air Cargo Challenge, and SURTAM. Won 'Best Innovative Design' award at XtraChallenge 2025 and achieved top static scores, demonstrating competitive capability.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

UVigo Aerotech is a student-run Aero Design association that designs, manufactures, and flies competition-grade unmanned aerial vehicles (fixed-wing drones and quadcopters) and rockets for university-level engineering competitions such as XtraChallenge, Air Cargo Challenge, EuRoC, and SURTAM. Activities are organized into three project pillars — Áine (aircraft), Solaris (rockets), and I+D (R&D autonomous flight) — and funded through corporate sponsorships in exchange for brand visibility.

Product overview

UVigo Aerotech is a student Aero Design team at the University of Vigo, consisting of three main project areas: Áine (model aircraft/drones for competitions like XtraChallenge and Air Cargo Challenge), Solaris (rockets for competitions like EuRoC), and I+D (R&D quadcopter development). The team has developed multiple aircraft including AZOR-0, CORV-0, MOBULA-0, LIGN-0, MIR-10, and PEREGRINUS, and rockets including Fervenza, Fénix, and Viradinha Mk1. Technical work spans propulsion systems, control systems, aerodynamics, structures, electronics, and dynamics. The Organization and Marketing department provides non-technical support across all projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Áine: Aero modeling project focused on model aircraft development with 4 aircraft manufactured, participating in XtraChallenge and Air Cargo Challenge competitions.
• Solaris
• I+D
• Org&Mark

Products and services

• Áine Aero Modeling Project Aeromodelism project focused on designing and building model aircraft and drones for competitions including XtraChallenge and Air Cargo Challenge, with departments covering propulsion, control systems, aerodynamics, and structural engineering. Targets university engineering students seeking hands-on fixed-wing and drone design experience.
• Solaris Rocket Design Project Rocket design and manufacturing project for national and international competitions such as EuRoC and SURTAM, covering propulsion, dynamics and control, electronics, and structures-and-aerodynamics subsystems. Develops water rockets (Fervenza), active-control demonstrators (Fénix), and the modular solid-fuel rocket Viradinha Mk1.
• I+D Autonomous Quadcopter R&D Project R&D project focused on developing a quadcopter with autonomous flight and obstacle detection using self-developed algorithms. Includes a Design Unit and Control and Recognition Unit working on CAD design, FEM simulation, materials, and software for computer-vision-based navigation.
• PEREGRINUS Competition Aircraft Model aircraft designed for XtraChallenge 2025 in Valencia. Features 2.613m wingspan, 0.48m² wing area, NACA 2412 airfoil; won Best Innovative Design Award and Best Business Proposal Award for an agricultural pest-detection application.
• Viradinha Mk1 Solid-Fuel Rocket First solid-fuel rocket developed by the team, featuring a modular motor design with interchangeable motors and carbon fiber rings; achieved 10-15 meters altitude in initial launch on 21 July 2025 in Ourense.
• Fervenza Water Rocket First entirely team-developed water rocket by the Solaris project. Reached over 25m height and approximately 130 km/h max speed; initial mass of 608g, empty mass of 158g.
• Fénix Active-Control Rocket Demonstrator Second rocket developed by the Solaris project, designed as an active-control proof-of-concept for JAI 2024; provided manufacturing experience for future challenges.
• AZOR-0 Prototype Aircraft First prototype aircraft designed during the 2019-2020 season. Features 4.14m wingspan, 1.11m² wing area, 14.69 aspect ratio, theoretical weight of 4272.49g, and 59.44 km/h max speed.
• CORV-0 Competition Aircraft First manufactured aircraft designed for Air Cargo Challenge 2022 in Munich. Features 2.2m wingspan, 90 km/h max speed, 5kg MTOW, 1.2kg payload capacity, and 0.414 max thrust-to-weight ratio.
• MOBULA-0 Flying-Wing Aircraft Flying-wing aircraft designed for XtraChallenge 2023 in Valencia. Features 1.638m wingspan, 0.47m² wing area, the custom UVigo Aerotech 25 airfoil, 3.8kg MTOW, and 72 km/h cruise speed; built with a 300-euro budget.
• LIGN-0 Fixed-Wing Drone Conventional fixed-wing drone designed for XtraChallenge 2023 in Valencia. Features 1.589m wingspan, 0.38m² wing area, the custom UVigo Aerotech 20 airfoil, and 3.3kg MTOW; built with a 300-euro budget.
• MIR-10 Twin-Version Competition Aircraft Model aircraft designed in 2023-2024 with two versions targeted at the Air Cargo Challenge and XtraChallenge 2024 competitions.

Quantifiable outcome

• First place in static tests and Best Innovative Design award at XtraChallenge 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Escola Aeronáutica e do Espazo (EEAE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school at the University of Vigo where the Aerospace Engineering degree is taught, and from which the majority of team members come. Provides institutional support and access to facilities.
• Escola Superior de Enxeñaría Informática (ESEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school at the University of Vigo where the Computer Engineering degree is taught, providing software and electronics engineering talent for the team.
• Tripoli SpaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganized the L1 rocket certification review at SURTAM 2026 alongside Solaris, providing the official regulatory oversight for the team's rocket certification. The team passed the general approval for the project.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DARE (Delft Aerospace Rocket Engineering): Student rocketry team at TU Delft building high-power rockets for EuRoC and Spaceport America Cup. Direct analogue to UVigo Aerotech's Solaris project in mission (university rocketry for international competitions), structure (student-led, multi-disciplinary), and scale.
• EPFL Rocket Team: Swiss student rocketry team competing at EuRoC with hybrid and solid motors. Direct analogue to UVigo Aerotech's Solaris project in competition target, structure, and academic-embedded operations.
• TUM Aerospace (Technische Universität München): TU Munich student aerospace teams (including rocket and UAS groups participating in Air Cargo Challenge and EuRoC). Direct analogue to UVigo Aerotech given overlapping competition circuit and engineering depth.

Broad incumbents

• CATEC (Centro Avanzado de Tecnologías Aeroespaciales): Andalusian advanced aerospace technology center and one of UVigo Aerotech's named sponsors. Both operate in Spanish aerospace R&D with UAS and aerospace-systems focus, but CATEC is a 100+ person applied-research center while UVigo Aerotech is a student competition team.
• Civil UAVs Initiative: Spanish industry-cluster initiative promoting civil UAV adoption and a UVigo Aerotech sponsor. Both focus on Spanish UAV ecosystem development, but Civil UAVs Initiative is an industry association while UVigo Aerotech is a student team.
• Aeromedia: Spanish aerial media and UAV services company and UVigo Aerotech sponsor. Both work with UAV platforms in Spain, but Aeromedia operates commercially for film/inspection clients while UVigo Aerotech builds competition prototypes.
• AerialWorks: Spanish drone services company and UVigo Aerotech sponsor. Both work on UAV platforms in Spain, but AerialWorks operates commercially (inspection, surveying) while UVigo Aerotech builds competition prototypes.
• Coasa (Componentes Aeronáuticos): Spanish aerospace components manufacturer and UVigo Aerotech sponsor. Both touch Spanish aerospace supply chains, but Coasa is a tier-2 commercial parts supplier while UVigo Aerotech is a student team.
• Marine Instruments: Spanish marine/aerospace instruments company and UVigo Aerotech sponsor. Overlap is in precision aerospace electronics and embedded systems, but Marine Instruments is a commercial manufacturer of marine-USV and aerial platforms rather than a student team.

Emerging players

• Uarx Space: Spanish space-tech startup and UVigo Aerotech sponsor. Both are Galicia/Spain-based with aerospace ambitions, but Uarx Space is an incorporated commercial launch-services startup, contrasting UVigo's nonprofit student-association structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uvigoaerotech
• Facebookfacebook.com/UVigoAerotech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uvigo-aerotech
• Instagraminstagram.com/uvigoaerotech
• TikToktiktok.com/@uvigo_aerotech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UVigo Aerotech