Excelerate Technology Group’s Hybrid Edge Wins DIREKTION 2025 Award for Disaster Resilience Innovation

Excelerate Technology Group has been awarded the prestigious DIREKTION 2025 Innovation Award for its Hybrid Edge platform, a fully operational solution enhancing disaster resilience and emergency response.

Combining satellite, terrestrial, and non-terrestrial networks with edge computing and IoT integration, Hybrid Edge ensures continuous, secure, and interoperable communications for frontline responders globally.

Hybrid Edge represents a leap forward in critical communications, addressing multiple capability gaps (CG1–CG10) identified by the DIREKTION consortium and aligned with the International Forum to Advance First Responder Innovation (IFAFRI). The platform delivers reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity across 4G/5G, satellite, Wi-Fi, and other networks, automatically switching between them to maintain uninterrupted communications—even in remote or connectivity-challenged environments.

Designed for adaptability and scalability, Hybrid Edge supports real-time data integration from wearables, sensors, UAVs, and unmanned systems, enabling rapid hazard detection, situational awareness, and time-critical decision-making. Its interoperable architecture ensures seamless coordination across agencies and standardized communication protocols, overcoming traditional integration barriers.

“The Hybrid Edge platform embodies our commitment to equipping responders with resilient, mission-critical communications,” said Nicola Savage, Group Marketing Director at Excelerate Technology Group. “By unifying diverse technologies into a single, secure, and intelligent ecosystem, we enhance operational effectiveness while safeguarding the safety of frontline personnel in extreme conditions.”

Hybrid Edge is fully operational at Technology Readiness Level 9 (TRL 9), with field-proven deployments supporting firefighters, emergency medical teams, civil protection agencies, and other first responders. Key capabilities include:

• Real-time GPS tracking and health monitoring through integrated wearables.
• Indoor/outdoor video streaming from body-worn cameras and drones, even in low-visibility or disaster-affected areas.
• AI-driven network switching and dynamic bandwidth management for uninterrupted, high-quality communications.
• Geo-location risk mapping, rapid scenario adaptation, and data consolidation for actionable intelligence.
• Modular, scalable deployment options for vehicles, temporary sites, and portable units.

Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA) and validated globally over three years, Hybrid Edge combines multi-orbit satellite connectivity, terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, edge computing, and cloud integration. It represents a fully integrated solution that transforms how emergency responders coordinate, share information, and protect communities in disaster-prone and remote environments.

By bridging critical communication gaps and delivering resilient, intelligent connectivity, Hybrid Edge positions Excelerate Technology Group at the forefront of global disaster resilience innovation. The platform’s recognition by the DIREKTION consortium underscores its transformative potential for first responders worldwide. Excelerate will showcase Hybrid Edge at INTERSCHUTZ Hannover, highlighting the award-winning technology and its impact on modern emergency operations.

Savage concluded: 

We’re thrilled to have Won the DIREKTION project (Horizon Europe) Award for Innovation in Disaster Resilience at the CERIS Disaster Resilience Days in Athens. I would like to thank Direktion, the European Commission Commission CERIS, European Space Agency - ESA and our Excelerate Technology Group technology team.