Munich-basedstartupOroraTech has secured 25mn in funding to scale up its AI-powered wildfire detection system.
Korys, the investment arm of the Colruyts a Belgian noble family led the funding round.
The EUs Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) also chipped in, alongside existinginvestorBayern Kapital.
OroraTech will use the freshfundingto fuel the next phase of its growth.
The company looks to expand into global markets beyond Europe, and keep refining its technology.
The startup has trained anAIalgorithm to scan these images and automatically detect signs of wildfires.
The system can also predict how they will spread.
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The most recent of these blasted off into low Earth orbit upon aSpaceXFalcon 9 in June last year.
More than500,000 hectaresof land across the EU burnt last year an area twice the size of Luxembourg.
Faced with this mounting problem, authorities are increasingly turning to high-tech solutions.
OroraTechs third satellite, FOREST-3 (pictured top), is scheduled to launch next month.
The company is currently testing eight new thermal-imaging satellites, which it plans to roll out in early 2025.
OroraTech joins an emerging cohort of firetech startups that have popped up in recent years.
Researchers in Portugal are even developing a drone thatdouses flamesfrom above.
Story bySion Geschwindt
Sion is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy.
