Biodegradable spheres to fight fires and regenerate forests

Biodegradable hydrogel spheres to fight fires and regenerate forests. This is the initiative being pursued by the start-up Aviogel supported and financed (with an investment of 300,000 euro) by Scientifica venture capital, based at Tecnopolo d'Abruzzo l'Aquila. The team, Aviogel is one of two start-ups that won the Inverso acceleration programme, has created spheres designed to be released from fire-fighting aircraft. In contact with water or other liquids, they absorb them, increasing their weight and guaranteeing greater precision in launches, even from higher altitudes. This feature reduces the risk for pilots and makes firefighting operations safer and more efficient.

"We wanted to create a technology that would not only extinguish fires, but at the same time help nature to be reborn," says William Carbone, co-founder of Aviogel. "With our hydrogel spheres, we aim to give pilots the ability to be more precise and safer during aerial interventions, while immediately beginning the reforestation process in the areas affected by the flames. Each intervention is an act of protection and regeneration'. The added value of Aviogel, as the promoters point out, "lies in its ability to combine firefighting with immediate forest regeneration. The spheres not only help to tame the flames, but also release seeds or nutrients, starting the reforestation process immediately after the intervention. "My career as a firefighter and paramedic has taught me the inestimable value of a rapid and targeted response in emergency situations, where every second and every gesture counts," adds Sevan Gerard, co-founder. "With Aviogel, we have succeeded in creating not only an effective tool in fighting fires, but also a means to immediately breathe new life into affected areas. We believe our technology can make a tangible difference, building a bridge between the safety of communities and the rebirth of their environment. On the horizon is the industrialisation that will take place within the laboratories of Scientifica Venture Capital, a space of over 4,000 square metres entirely dedicated to science and innovation. "What struck us was the synergetic effectiveness of the solution developed by his team. This is not simply an isolated technological innovation, but a concept that has the potential to bring tangible benefits to the community and preserve the ecosystems in which we live,' comments Riccardo D'Alessandri, managing partner of Scientifica Venture Capital. The approach taken is characterised by a forward-looking and sustainable vision aimed at solving complex problems related to forest fire management. We are excited to monitor Aviogel's progress and the potential of this technology to revolutionise fire prevention and management practices in the future'.