Development of drones and of use cases in mountain rescue
The project aims to develop the use of semi-autonomous drones for rescue operations in extreme environments, particularly in the mountains. To this end, the partnership will explore and develop aerial rescue using drones with an innovative, user-centred approach. Finally, the implementation of a drone living lab will facilitate advanced forms of cooperation between stakeholders from neighboring regions.
Programme
Enhanced Rescue Operations: The project focuses on developing drone technologies to assist in locating and aiding individuals in distress in mountainous terrains.
User-Centred Design: Incorporates feedback from mountain rescue teams to ensure the drones meet real-world needs.
Cross-Border Collaboration: Fosters cooperation between Italian and Austrian stakeholders to share knowledge and resources.
Budget
The START2 Living Lab project has a total budget of €1,235,497.60, with €882,734.73 co-financed by the European Union. This budget enables cutting-edge research, prototype development, real-world testing, and strong collaboration between Italian and Austrian partners to enhance alpine rescue capabilities.
Duration
The START2 Living Lab project runs from January 2024 to January 2026.
EU FUNDING
The START2 Living Lab project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the Interreg VI-A Italy–Austria 2021–2027 programme. This funding supports cross-border innovation, enabling the development of drone technologies for mountain rescue while fostering international collaboration and real-world testing in alpine environments.
Partners
- NOI Techpark (Italy)
- Eurac Research – Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine (Italy)
- MAVTech Srl (Italy)
- FlyingBasket Srl (Italy)
- CNSAS – Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico Veneto, Zona Dolomiti Bellunesi (Italy)
- FH Kärnten – Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (Austria)
- FH Kufstein Tirol Bildungs GmbH – University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol (Austria)
