NAXA Joins Our Partner Ecosystem

Nepal Flying Labs has had a remarkable journey. One of the first three Flying Labs ever established, and so a founding member of the Flying Labs Network, its parent company, NAXA, is now transitioning into a technology partner. NAXA is a leading technology company that now develops and delivers powerful tech solutions within Nepal and beyond, and this evolution reflects their incredible growth and impact. 

Over the past nine years, under the leadership of Coordinator Uttam Pudasaini, NAXA has evolved into a highly respected organization with deep expertise in drone technology, geospatial data, and digital solutions for development and humanitarian impact. Their work, as NAXA and as Nepal Flying Labs, has been nothing short of pioneering. They have pushed boundaries, built partnerships, and set standards for what locally led drone and data solutions can achieve.

Their list of accomplishments is long and inspiring.

• Prior to beginning drone applications, Nepal Flying Labs first focused on strengthening the country’s drone ecosystem. They started by identifying local organizations already working with drones and supporting them through a dedicated business incubation program. Four companies were selected as winners and were incubated by Nepal Flying Labs and its partners for six months following the finalist announcements. 
• Together with the World Food Programme (WFP) Nepal and the WeRobotics team, Nepal Flying Labs organized the country’s first-ever five-day simulation exercise on using drones for disaster response and management. Originally designed by WeRobotics in 2015, the simulation brought together three teams (Authorities, Pilots, and Analysts) who collaborated to identify and safely retrieve colored markers as quickly as possible. 
• Nepal Flying Labs designed and developed the country’s first comprehensive digital solution to manage drone operations — from applying for flight permissions to reviewing and approving them. Supported by Twilio and WeRobotics, the project also included an international workshop to discuss the digitalization of processes related to drone technology.
• They improved access to healthcare through the award-winning DrOTS project, which used drones to transport TB diagnostic samples to GeneXpert testing sites. This innovation earned them the AUVSI XCELLENCE Award in 2020, and later the TIACA Air Cargo Sustainability Award in the start-up category. The DrOTS test flight was conducted successfully in Pyuthan district in western Nepal. The project covered over 106 flights collecting and delivering more than 742 sputum samples, with a result of 26 positive cases from eight remote health facilities.
• They contributed to preserving Nepal’s cultural heritage through high-resolution 3D mapping of the Changunarayan Temple, offering a model for future heritage preservation efforts.
• They shaped policy and fostered collaboration through the “Nepal Drone Ecosystem and Capacity Assessment Review” workshop, which brought together about 75 participants from 40 organizations across government, academia, and the private sector. The team conducted a comprehensive study and developed four thematic reports covering key areas: drones in academia, in the non-government sector, in the government sector, and drone policies in Nepal. 
• Nepal Flying Labs led the first international training in partnership with Bhutan Flying Labs, organizing a hands-on program for government officials in Bhutan. The training focused on using drones for multi-hazard risk assessment and mapping. Participation from a total of 40 government officials from various ministries and departments offered a strong example of South-South collaboration within the Flying Labs community.
• Nepal Flying Labs turned data into action in disaster-prone areas like Ghyapche, where their pioneering high-resolution aerial survey work won them the 2018 AUVSI XCELLENCE Humanitarian Operations Award, and thereafter evolved to include rich stakeholder engagement and actionable insights in 2023. Their interactive story map from this project won the 2024 ArcGIS StoryMaps Humanitarian and Disaster Response award.

WeRobotics’ mission is to amplify the power of local expertise to multiply sustainable solutions for development, aid, and climate, driven by local actors and supported by appropriate robotics technologies. We do this through the Flying Labs Network — connecting and supporting local experts in drone, data, and AI technologies. WeRobotics itself doesn’t build technology; instead, we create access to it through a strong partner ecosystem. This includes hardware discounts, software donations, and strategic opportunities for Flying Labs. We’re proud to now welcome NAXA into this ecosystem as a technology partner, offering their advanced tools and deep experience to benefit Flying Labs worldwide.

For us, that a Flying Labs license holder can evolve into a technology partner is great cause for celebration. This kind of growth is exactly what becomes possible when local experts are supported to lead. Their transition is a powerful example of how the Flying Labs Network is designed to be flexible, responsive, and centered on the needs of local experts. It speaks to the freedom and trust that underpin our Network, in sharp contrast to the rigidity that can often result from centralised, top-down models. We don’t impose fixed pathways. Instead, we focus on supporting Flying Labs to build capacity and strengthen their organizations. When the time is right for a new type of collaboration, like this one with NAXA, we co-create what that shift looks like together.

As NAXA steps into its new role, Nepal Flying Labs continues under new leadership and co-hosting. It is now co-hosted by Geovation Nepal Pvt, led by Siddhanta Neupane and Kumar Paudel, while Uttam Pudasaini will stay on as an advisor. We warmly welcome the new team and look forward to seeing how they build on this incredible legacy while bringing fresh energy and ideas to the Network.

Nepal Flying Labs shows us what is possible when local expertise is supported and connected. Their evolution is the future we envision for all Flying Labs, with innovation and collaboration growing in tandem. We are proud of how far we've come together and excited for all that lies ahead.