From Concept to Collaboration
The day opened with a presentation on the vision and goals of EDEN-Medical, a project supported by the Interreg V-A Euregio Meuse-Rhine programme. Its mission is to develop a cross-border framework for drone-based medical deliveries of critical goods such as blood samples, medication, and laboratory materials.
Through a series of keynote presentations and a lively panel discussion, consortium members shared lessons from previous projects and explored the regulatory, logistical, and technical aspects of medical drone operations. The exchange of insights underscored the value of collaboration between healthcare institutions, research partners, and industry players in building a reliable and scalable cross-border medical transport network.
Demonstrations and Dialogue
In the afternoon, participants joined a guided tour of DronePort’s facilities, including the control tower, airplane hangar, and the Remote Operation Center of Citymesh, where real-time drone operations were showcased. Over the DronePort runway, FlyXDrive performed a live demonstration flight, illustrating how medical goods can be transported safely and efficiently. ADLC, FlyXDrive, and DroneLand also displayed their drones, offering a hands-on view of the innovative technologies driving the project forward.
Strengthening Healthcare Resilience
EDEN-Medical was conceived in response to challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent natural disasters, when supply chains and cross-border coordination came under pressure. The project aims to build a more resilient healthcare system by enabling fast, secure, and sustainable drone transport, supported by a modular digital platform that facilitates real-time data exchange between hospitals and laboratories.
Looking Ahead
As the event concluded, the consortium expressed enthusiasm for the next phase: developing an operational framework that brings together medical, legal, and technological expertise. DronePort will continue its active role as a testing and innovation hub, supporting real-world validation of drone logistics and contributing to a more connected and crisis-ready healthcare system.
“EDEN-Medical perfectly embodies DronePort’s mission to accelerate the transition toward carbon-free and autonomous air mobility,” said Seppe Oyen from DronePort. “Together with our partners, we are actively working on shaping solutions that will make medical transport faster, safer, and more resilient across borders.”
About EDEN-Medical
The EDEN-Medical project is carried out within the framework of the Interreg Euregio Meuse-Rhine (NL-BE-DE) programme and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), alongside contributions from DE-State NRW and NL-Province of Limburg.
The consortium includes Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Stichting Zuyderland Medisch Centrum, Docs in Clouds TeleCare GmbH, FlyXDrive GmbH, Maastricht University, RWTH Aachen University, EMRIC (Aachen Fire Department), DronePort Sint-Truiden, and Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg.
Together, these partners combine expertise in healthcare, technology, mobility, and emergency response to pioneer the future of cross-border medical logistics in Europe.
