Ibadan, 2 July 2024. – The Greek Ministry of Digital Governance has announced an investment into four thermal satellites and a wildfire system with the thermal intelligence provider OroraTech. Together with a consortium of Greek subcontractors, OroraTech will deliver a system for wildfire management, including ground systems and processing services, as well as a constellation of thermal imaging satellites dedicated to monitoring the entire country of Greece for wildfires.
This development contract will be implemented by the European Space Agency and led by the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance and the Hellenic Space Center. This €20 million investment provides an urgent solution to combating the
problem of the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires.
“By investing specifically into orbital technology, we are making a real difference in monitoring wildfires that threaten human lives, our ecosystems, and our economy,” said Greek Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou. “OroraTech’s wildfire detection and monitoring system scans for fires from orbit, creating unmatched situational awareness.”
OroraTech and its Greek partners won the contract in an open tender by the European Space Agency (ESA) to support the Greek National Satellites Space Program led by the Hellenic Space Center. Founded in 2018, OroraTech, a Munich-based company, uses infrared data from satellites to provide wildfire intelligence to government and private industry customers.
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.
“The world-class know-how of our Greek partners for thermal sensing is instrumental in providing the best solution for this country,” stated CEO and CTO Martin Langer of OroraTech. “Greece will be the first country worldwide to have a National satellite-based wildfire system in place.
