Minutes That Matter: How Everdrone Is Redefining Emergency Response with Autonomous Drones in Healthcare
Mats Sällström, CEO of Everdrone (photo: Everdrone)
On 16 March 2026, Swedish healthtech company Everdrone announced it had raised SEK 36 million to expand its autonomous drone services for emergency healthcare across Europe. The funding round, led by Sciety, will support further system integration and the company’s move into a commercial phase following several years of operational deployment. Everdrone’s drones are already used in Sweden and France to deliver life-saving medical equipment—such as automated external defibrillators (AEDs)—to the scene of cardiac arrests, often before ambulances arrive.
What distinguishes this development is not the use of drones alone, but how they are integrated into emergency response systems. Everdrone is not replacing ambulances; it is introducing a new layer of intervention in the critical minutes before professional responders reach the scene.
A Company Built Around Reducing Emergency Response Time
Everdrone was founded in Gothenburg in 2017, with a focus on applying autonomous drone technology to practical, high-impact use cases. Early development involved exploring multiple applications, but the company increasingly concentrated on emergency healthcare, where response time is directly linked to survival.
This focus was shaped through collaboration with healthcare providers and researchers, as well as field testing in Sweden. Cardiac arrest, in particular, emerged as a clear use case: survival rates decline rapidly without early defibrillation, and even well-developed emergency systems cannot always guarantee rapid arrival times.
Rather than attempting to optimise ambulance logistics, Everdrone’s approach has been to bring critical equipment directly to the patient as quickly as possible.
From Trials to Operational Drone Deployment in Emergency Care
Since 2020, Everdrone has conducted operational flights within emergency healthcare, integrating its system into dispatch processes rather than running isolated pilots. Its service is currently active in Sweden’s Västra Götaland region and has been procured by Region Stockholm and the Normandy region in France.
The system is designed to operate alongside existing emergency services. When a cardiac arrest is reported, a drone is dispatched in parallel with an ambulance, carrying an AED to the scene.
“Our autonomous drones are integrated into the emergency response chain and dispatched in parallel with ambulances,” said CEO Mats Sällström in the company’s March 2026 press release announcing the funding.
This operational model reflects a deliberate design choice: drones are used to complement, rather than replace, emergency responders.
Extending Care Before Ambulances Arrive
The introduction of autonomous drones changes the sequence of emergency response. Traditionally, treatment begins when paramedics arrive. Everdrone’s system enables intervention to start earlier.
The drones deliver AEDs—portable devices used to restore a normal heart rhythm—and provide real-time video feeds to emergency dispatchers. This allows dispatchers to assess the situation visually and guide bystanders more effectively.
The combination of early equipment delivery and remote support reduces the gap between incident and intervention. In cardiac arrest cases, where time is critical, even small reductions in response time can significantly improve outcomes.
Growing Demand for Drone-Based Emergency Healthcare Solutions
Everdrone’s expansion into additional regions reflects increasing interest from healthcare providers looking to improve response coverage.
“Interest in drone-based solutions in emergency healthcare is increasing as regions look for new ways to reduce response times and improve coverage in both urban and rural areas,” said Sällström in the same press release.
The company’s deployments in Sweden and France demonstrate that such systems can be integrated into existing public healthcare structures, although each new region requires adaptation to local regulations and operational frameworks.
From Drone Technology to Integrated Emergency Service
A defining aspect of Everdrone’s development is its shift from focusing on drone technology alone to building an integrated emergency response service.
The company has developed its system in close collaboration with healthcare providers, ensuring that it aligns with real-world workflows and regulatory requirements. This includes operating in urban environments, where safety and compliance standards are particularly strict.
This emphasis on integration reflects a broader reality in healthcare innovation: success depends not only on technology but also on how well it fits within existing systems.
Investment Signals Confidence in Autonomous Emergency Response
The SEK 36 million funding round signals investor confidence in Everdrone’s model, particularly its proven application within emergency healthcare.
“Everdrone addresses a clear and well-documented need in emergency healthcare and has already established partnerships with several regions in Sweden and France,” said Andreas Lindblom, Managing Partner at Sciety, in the March 2026 press release.
The investment will be used to validate the system in additional markets and further develop the technology platform for future services.
“This funding gives us stronger conditions to continue building the company and expanding our services into more markets across Europe,” Sällström added in the same announcement.
Scaling Drone Emergency Services Across Europe
While the technology is operational, scaling drone-based emergency response across Europe presents structural challenges. Healthcare systems differ between countries, as do regulatory frameworks governing drone operations.
Integrating autonomous drones into emergency response chains requires coordination between aviation authorities, healthcare providers, and public agencies. These processes can be complex, particularly in public-sector environments.
Everdrone’s experience in Sweden and France provides a foundation, but expansion will depend on navigating these differences while maintaining reliability and compliance.
Trust, Safety and Clinical Validation
Operating autonomous drones in emergency healthcare requires a high level of trust. Systems must be reliable, safe, and accepted by both professionals and the public.
Interesting in that regard is that Everdrone’s work has been featured in leading medical journals, including The Lancet and The New England Journal of Medicine, according to the company’s press materials. This reflects validation beyond the technology sector, although continued evaluation will be necessary as the system expands.
Conclusion: A New Layer in Emergency Response Infrastructure
Everdrone’s funding announcement marks a transition from development to commercial expansion. More broadly, it reflects a shift in how emergency response systems can be designed.
By delivering life-saving equipment within minutes and supporting bystanders through real-time guidance, autonomous drones introduce a new layer to the emergency response chain.
As deployments expand across Europe, the key question will not be whether drone-based emergency response works, but how effectively it can be integrated into diverse healthcare systems.
In emergency medicine, outcomes are often defined in the first minutes. Everdrone’s contribution lies in reshaping what happens during that time.
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