CAF invests in Unblur to boost the Govtech sector in Europe
CAF -development bank of Latin America- made an equity investment in Unblur S.L., a startup that offers digital solutions to governments and public organisations to streamline and optimise decision-making in disaster and emergency response. Unblur's mission is to provide useful technologies to commanders and responders in order to save lives and protect property and the environment.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digital transformation of all industries and sectors, triggering a boom in the Govtech sector, made up of companies that offer technological solutions to optimise the quality and agility of public administration. Today, the Govtech market generates more than $400 billion annually worldwide.
The investment, made through the FIDE (Business Investment and Development Fund to support Small and Medium Enterprises) is strategically relevant for CAF as one of the most visible Govtech companies in Europe, providing technology for the public sector with an avant-garde vision, with a view to preparing for international expansion into Latin America in 2024.
Unblur is a Govech founded in 2016 with headquarters in Spain, currently operating in the UK, Denmark and Sweden, and in its short-term plans it plans to consolidate in the European market, as a preliminary step to international expansion. Unblur provides services to various fire services such as the London Fire Brigade which is the largest fire brigade in Europe, Shropshire, Mid and West Wales and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and the Fire Service College, a European and global benchmark in specialised training for firefighters.
The IRIS digital platform incorporates artificial intelligence capabilities for emergency response. The solution aggregates static information (operational procedures, emergency plans, maps, risks and historical data) and dynamic information (drones, cameras, GPS and IoT sensors), which are processed in real time and analysed to provide specific recommendations to response team commanders. IRIS is a cross-cutting platform that responds to public organisations, private companies, infrastructures such as ports, airports and power plants.
Unblur has been recognised with the "Best Govtech Startup" award at the Govtech Summit, the "Seal of Excellence" and in 2020 was awarded the European Commission's EIC Accelerator programme for the best innovative initiatives.
The use of the IRIS platform by public emergencies, fire brigades, civil protection and police will significantly optimise emergency response, demonstrating the importance of incorporating technology in the public sector. It is expected that, by improving the response to these services, Unblur will have a positive impact on the economic and social development of the region, and that CAF's investment will enable the scalability of this technology so that these solutions can be made available to public administrations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
For more information: https://www.unblur.co/en/
