On 15 January 2026, Joint European Drone Association (JEDA) hosted the first JEDA Talks of the year, focused on shaping our Roadmap for 2026 and setting the tone for closer engagement with our members in the months ahead.

With the start of the new year, the Executive Team has agreed to introduce more regular member-focused meetings, creating additional space to discuss ongoing challenges, opportunities, and priorities across the European drone ecosystem. While the newsletter remains an important communication channel, there is clearly a need for more direct interaction — and JEDA Talks are designed to fill exactly that role.

We were also happy to mark this moment together with the launch of the new JEDA website, which will serve as a more dynamic hub for news, initiatives, events, and member engagement going forward.

What we discussed

The agenda is very much a work in progress, shaped by current needs and member input. During this session, we touched upon several key topics, including project awards and how to manage the growing workload, the idea of a technical assistant position, the broader roadmap for 2026, the kick-off of the campaign for the next Board term, and an initial look at major drone-related events planned for 2026.

As always, the agenda remains open. If there is a topic you believe should be discussed in future sessions, you are warmly encouraged to reach out and suggest it.

Looking ahead to the next General Assembly

An important milestone is approaching for the association. At the next General Assembly, we will be proposing candidates for the JEDA Board, as the current two-year term is coming to an end. More details on the nomination process will be shared with members in due course, but we already encourage everyone to start thinking about potential candidates and their willingness to contribute to JEDA’s next chapter.

Stay involved

Meeting minutes and a recording of the session have been shared with participants, and several follow-up actions are already underway to support members, improve communication, and strengthen coordination across ongoing initiatives.

This is only the beginning of what we aim to be a more interactive and collaborative year. We are very much looking forward to continuing the conversation, hearing your perspectives, and meeting you again throughout 2026.

Wishing you a great start to the year — and see you at the next JEDA Talks.