Portuguese startup Eliot develops electric drone for life-saving medical deliveries
Eliot, a spin-off from CEiiA, takes an eco-friendly approach with its fully electric ET15 drone to promote greener and more efficient air mobility
Portuguese startup Eliot has developed the ET15, a fully electric, autonomous drone designed to ensure urgent medical response, save lives, and support humanitarian missions in extreme contexts such as disaster zones, conflict areas, or regions without access to basic infrastructure.
Capable of carrying up to 15 kg of critical materials – including blood, organs for transplant, medicines, and biological samples – the ET15 can travel up to 100 km and operate with precision in challenging environments. Its configuration combines fixed-wing flight autonomy with VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) capability, allowing it to operate effectively even in places with limited access.
Developed in partnership with Rangel and CEiiA, the drone is positioned as a strategic solution for emergency logistics, defence and healthcare, representing a significant advance in air mobility applied to humanitarian response.
This innovative project earned Eliot the Logistics Excellence Award – PEL Startup 2025, awarded by APLOG, the Portuguese Logistics Association. The award highlighted the startup's ability to respond to complex logistics challenges and its alignment with current market demands.
"Receiving this award is a confirmation that we are addressing real-world challenges. Innovation, when applied with purpose, has the power to transform not only industries, but also social realities”, Inês Folhadela Furtado, CEO of Eliot, said at the time.
Operating as a spin-off from CEiiA, Eliot goes beyond drone development, also offering certified testing services, regulatory support, and systems integration for aerial platforms. With ET15, the company reinforces Portugal's contribution to advanced air mobility and is committed to more sustainable, innovative logistics centred on missions with a social impact.
