The approval was granted by Germany’s Federal Aviation Office, the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, allowing Matternet to fly lab samples for Labor Berlin, which handles more than 6 million samples a year from satellite laboratories across Berlin in its central lab.
The delivery network will connect Berlin Labor’s central lab with affiliated hospitals for ultra-fast deliveries in a densely populated city, targeting emergency diagnostics and cutting carbon emissions from road traffic.
Andreas Raptopoulos, Founder and CEO of Matternet, says, “Healthcare systems need a fast, reliable and cost-effective solution to transport lab samples and pharmacy items to ensure patients receive best-in-class care. We are extremely excited to partner with Labor Berlin, Europe’s largest hospital laboratory, to create the first city-wide healthcare network in the capital of Germany and bring the benefits of drone delivery to the citizens of Berlin.”
Nina Beikert, CEO of Labor Berlin, adds, “Collaborating with Matternet enables us to enhance access to vital healthcare options through unmanned drone delivery, benefiting our patients and hospital network. These operations align with our dedication to innovation and sustainability as drone delivery not only accelerates emergency testing, but also enhances supply chain efficiencies while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”