The Metropolitan UAM project aims to create the conditions for the controlled development of urban aviation in the capital region, especially for the utilization of unmanned aviation (drones). The goal of the project is to strengthen the region's R&D ecosystem and innovation activities, to solve the challenges of the drone industry and to utilize the full potential of drone technology in, for example, package transport, environmental monitoring and rescue tasks. The project has been prepared in cooperation between the cities of Vantaa, Helsinki and Espoo and VTT. The background of the project is e.g. the fact that already in 2022-2023 around 30,000 drone flights were made in Helsinki and the industry is predicted to grow strongly. Drones are already used e.g. for inspection, monitoring and supervision. Stara, the city of Helsinki's construction services company, has 12 drones at its disposal, the Rescue Department has four and the Port has two. The logistics department of the social, health and rescue industry is also actively developing its own drone expertise due to the promising results of fast medicine transport experiments. At the same time, work has been done on the EU level to develop the drone market. However, the development of the drone industry in the capital region is hindered by the limitation of the UAS airspace zone and the lack of landing platforms. The limitation of the UAS airspace zone prevents, for example, the use of drones in long-distance freight transport, as the operator currently has to keep the aircraft within visual range. In addition, flying a drone near an airport is very difficult because it can disrupt air traffic. The project aims to solve these challenges by developing urban airspace and designing functional take-off and landing platforms. The focus is regional RDI cooperation, in which companies, RDI organizations and cities participate. The cooperation aims to create a safe and functional UAM ecosystem that benefits all parties. The project develops e.g. The U-space system, which enables the safe operation of drones in urban areas. U-space uses real-time data and sensors to monitor drone movements and prevent potential conflicts. The U-space system is also considered a way to reduce the risk to humans caused by drones (ground risk management). Regional R&D cooperation is important in the development and utilization of new technologies. Companies can develop new drone-based services and applications, and cities can use drones for e.g. in monitoring traffic and monitoring the environment. The project utilizes the results of previous projects, such as CITYAM and AiRMOUR. However, it differs from previous projects by focusing specifically on cooperation across city borders and the development of the U-space system. The goal of the project is to consolidate R&D cooperation in the capital region, strengthen cooperation between public actors and start U-space development work. The project brings a significant change to the current situation, where regional cooperation has been minimal. As a result of the project, the RDI activities of SMEs and the commercialization of innovations will develop. The introduction of the U-space system opens up new opportunities for companies and enables the development of the drone industry. Research and development institutions also benefit from the project, as it offers them the opportunity to deepen their expertise and participate in the development of new technologies. For example, VTT can focus on research into the autonomous navigation of drones, and universities of applied sciences can develop new testing methods for the safety of drones. The cities can use drones in their own operations, and the project promotes the profiling of the capital region as a pioneer in the UAM industry. The novelty value of the project lies in its ability to connect different actors to achieve a common goal. It creates a platform for sharing information and developing innovative solutions. The project is a pioneer in Finland and serves as an example for other cities. Its results and experiences can be used to develop the UAM industry throughout the country. The project supports the goals of several regional, national and international strategies, such as the Uusimaa program, the EU's drone strategy and government program goals. It promotes e.g. carbon neutrality, innovation and sustainable development.