In recent months, the Bletterbach Gorge near Aldino has repeatedly looked like a set from an action movie. People wrapped up in foil blankets are surrounded by rocks and rubble, and rescue teams with modern equipment. The star of the show is a five-kilo drone, equipped with a high-resolution optical camera and a parachute, flying through this narrow, steep, rocky gorge. This is the inter-regional research project START, which sees mountain rescuers from South Tyrol, Tyrol, Carinzia and Belluno team up with scientific partners from the Eurac Research Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine and NOI Techpark to test new technologies for mountain rescue operations.

The project’s goal is to demonstrate under real-world conditions how drone technology can locate accident victims more precisely and transport emergency equipment more quickly, even in challenging environments with no mobile phone reception and often no GPS signal. Non only scientists and mountain rescuers learn from the project, but South Tyrolean drone manufacturers MAVTech, Soleon and Up Caeli Via can too. The valuable insights they gain through these operations will enable them to adapt their technology more effectively to users’ needs.

Unmanned aircraft have been expanding rapidly in South Tyrol for some years, and START is just one chapter in this success story. While it is impossible to compete with the huge influx of low-cost, off-the-shelf products from Chinese and other overseas suppliers, there are more interesting market niches offering new opportunities in the challenging Alpine environment. Initially, drones were mainly used on film sets and for photo shoots, but their potential in mountain settings is now being recognised in an increasing number of fields of study, including geology, agriculture, landscape and monument conservation, and, more recently, civil protection. The idea is simple yet ingenious: a bird's-eye view is better than a view from the ground. The challenge lies in transforming this advantage into practical applications with added value. Recently, South Tyrol’s traditional strength has been revealed in its innovative management of nature and its threats. For instance, aerial measurements using photogrammetry or laser scanning can now record and model huge areas with centimetre precision in a very short time. Flood or avalanche protection can be improved by monitoring with high-precision, drone-mounted devices, and data can be collected for precision agriculture.

Several start-ups and companies are driving this innovation by developing new solutions for age-old challenges. They demonstrate great courage, technological expertise, a fresh outlook, and an unwillingness to give up when something seems impossible. One such company is FlyingBasket, whose drones can carry loads of up to 100 kilos. The environment these manufacturers come from is essential, as it enables them to bring their ideas to life. The Alpine region has a wealth of experience, and new technologies can be developed through direct conversations with users. In addition, NOI Techpark is a microcosm where many projects are realised that could not have been achieved by individuals working alone. Its facilities include the terraXcube, where DronEx is currently recreating a specific testing environment for the drone industry; by reproducing a variety of weather conditions for drone stress tests, it fills a major gap in drone research.

Our tech transfer services are equally important. We support bold start-ups and innovative developers with design and financing. We also provide feedback and access to proven methodological tools and a broad network of national and international contacts. These services can really strengthen the right product product. For example, they have helped the entrepreneurial duo behind Alto Drones and Soleon to develop lidar applications that use laser scanning to improve small-area measurements. As members of UAV Dach, Europe’s largest trade association for unmanned aviation, we help ensure that South Tyrol has a say in legislation in this field. Furthermore, South Tyrolean drone manufacturers are trusted partners in monitoring the transition from Italian Civil Aviation Authority regulations to common European legislation.

Coming together and joining forces is even more important in the mountains than in many other ecosystems. South Tyrol's status as a technological pioneer in the rapidly expanding drone industry proves that collaboration is worthwhile, and in this case, it means we can truly take off.