The Greek Ministry of Digital Governance has awarded a €20 million investment into the German thermal intelligence provider OroraTech. It will be used to build a satellite-based early warning system for wildfires.
Operations hub in Greece
OroraTech will invest in Greece over the next years by opening an operations hub in Athens for its entire fleet of space sensors and a development team dedicated to advanced infrared sensing technology.
This announcement comes at a time when Greece is preparing for another hot summer with the threat of destructive wildfires. In recent years, the nation experienced a significant number of wildfires that have affected nearly 2% of the country’s total land area. Because of its rough mountainous terrain and over 6,000 islands, fighting wildfires in Greece is difficult.
OroraTech’s data services will be directly connected to the Greek emergency services and employ the expertise of Greek universities and industry. The company partners with the National Technical University of Athens to develop data product algorithms, the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens on space sensor development and calibration initiatives, Satways Ltd. on product interoperability, and Attisat S.A. on building a Greek-based ground station.
“By investing specifically into orbital technology, we are making a real difference in monitoring wildfires that threaten human lives, our ecosystems, and our economy,” stated Greek Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou.
“The capability OroraTech developed through the agency’s funding is a powerful example of space technologies providing immediate and critical benefits here on Earth,” commented the Director of Earth Observation Programmes at the European Space Agency, Simonetta Cheli.
What does OroraTech do?
Founded by Björn Stoffers, Florian Mauracher, Rupert Amann, and Thomas Grübler in 2018, OroraTech is an intelligence-as-a-service company delivering thermal intelligence for a sustainable Earth.
Since the launch of the first thermal sensor FOREST-1 in 2022 and the first commercial sensor FOREST-2 in 2023, the company has established a network of sensors that continuously monitors the Earth’s temperature on a global scale. Within three minutes, its technology alerts customers if their assets are at risk, ensuring timely action.
Worldwide coverage is ensured through continuous real-time situational awareness data, thus helping the company detect fires of any size, day or night, down to a single tree. Its Wildfire Intelligence Solution is used by customers across six continents, from commercial enterprises to governmental organisations.
According to CEO and CTO Martin Langer of OroraTech: “The world-class know-how of our Greek partners for thermal sensing is instrumental in providing the best solution for this country. Greece will be the first country worldwide to have a National satellite-based wildfire system in place.”
What do we think about OroraTech?
The latest investment from the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance will establish a satellite-based early warning system for wildfires, crucial for Greece’s challenging terrain. By leveraging partnerships with Greek universities and companies, OroraTech’s thermal intelligence technology offers timely fire detection and global coverage, positioning it as a leader in wildfire monitoring and response solutions.
