Dryad Networks Raises €6.3M to Lead Breakthrough Innovations in Wildfire Detection and Drone-Based Suppression Technology

Dryad Networks, a pioneer in ultra-early wildfire detection technology, announced a major financial boost to advance its wildfire prevention solutions. The company has been awarded a €3.8 million grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), via Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB), to accelerate the development of its revolutionary wildfire suppression project, codenamed “Florian.” This significant grant will drive the development of an autonomous drone-based system designed to combat wildfires at their inception.

In addition to the ILB grant, Dryad Networks has secured €2.5 million in funding from First Imagine!, a leading climate-tech investor. This brings the total raised from its April convertible financing round to €8.9 million. The new capital injection positions Dryad to scale its Silvanet wildfire detection platform while driving forward the development of Florian, an innovative solution that combines AI-driven early detection with immediate suppression capabilities.

Building upon the success of the Silvanet system, which uses solar-powered, AI-driven networks to detect the early signs of wildfires, Dryad Networks is now developing Florian to swiftly and effectively suppress these fires. Using an autonomous drone fleet equipped with innovative fire suppression technology, such as acoustic waves, Florian is designed to extinguish wildfires before they have a chance to spread. These drones will be permanently stationed in high-risk forests, ensuring a rapid response to potential threats.

Dryad Networks’ participation as a finalist in the XPRIZE Wildfire Competition with their Florian project underscores the urgent need for innovative solutions to address the escalating threat of wildfires worldwide. As extreme wildfires continue to cause billions of euros in damage and wreak havoc on fragile ecosystems, new technologies are becoming increasingly vital for early detection and suppression.