A Scottish med-tech firm is doubling its workforce after its emergency in-flight assistive device technology for medical emergencies was supported by Boeing.
Aiber, based in Edinburgh and Inverness, is expanding its headcount after successful six month trials with the aircraft manufacturer, where it’s ‘carry onboard’ solution was evaluated.
The award-winning company, which was originally spun out from the University of Aberdeen, will further roll out its product to customers in the aviation and maritime sectors in geographical territories such as Europe, the US, and the Middle East. As part of this expansion, it expects to create a range of new roles, including in software development, sales, and service support.
Aiber’s technology is suitable for use on commercial airlines, business jets and onboard vessels. Some airlines have a comprehensive medical kit onboard supported by products such as defibrillators, but the provision varies across the globe. Providing an end-to-end connection with ground support medical services and tools for sharing vital signs data, Aiber is specifically designed to ‘hand hold’ non-medical professionals like cabin crew through a variety of events from allergic reactions to potential heart complaints.
The technology allows for more informed decisions to be made by the flight deck. Apart from improving the passenger experience it can mitigate risk and save airlines considerable sums. One diversion caused by a medical incident can cost a commercial airline anything from £25,000 to £500,000.
The trials underlined the need for the carry-onboard solution to be as lightweight and compact as possible for stowage on business jets and limited spaces on commercial carriers. A team of technologists and aviation health experts were also able to evaluate how Aiber performs in a range of real-world emergency scenarios, including assessing the quality of vital ECG heart activity data. The subsequent upgrade and re-design made it more compact, with an easy-to-use layout and clear labelling to help crew in times of stress.
The ongoing support from Boeing has accelerated the Company’s global readiness. Since first participating in Boeing’s Aerospace Xelerated program, a funded three-month accelerator for startups that can move the aerospace industry forward, Aiber has recently raised a seven-figure investment, led by BGF (Business Growth Fund).
Jacqueline Davidson, program director of Boeing’s Aerospace Xelerated said: “We are delighted to have supported the Aiber team with this important phase of testing and validation of their inflight emergency product. Coupled with their successful investment in May 2022, this testing lays foundation for growth and for the Company to service their customers on a global scale.”
Anne Roberts, co-founder and chief executive of Aiber, said: “Our work with Boeing has really been fantastic in terms of developing our product and setting Aiber on the path to further growth. At the heart of everything we do is supporting air crews with lifesaving skills and emergency management by giving them the tools they need to communicate the emergency properly, so they can respond in a calm and confident manner whilst the airline can demonstrate responsible safety mitigation.”