Vertical Aerospace Secures Proof-of-Concept Grant to Advance Emergency Medical Services Capabilities in Singapore
Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and advanced technology company at the forefront of electric aviation, has taken a significant step toward real-world deployment of next-generation air mobility solutions in Southeast Asia. The company announced that it has been selected as a winner of the Dimension X Cohort 7 Challenge, earning a Proof-of-Concept (POC) grant from Hatch, the innovation centre of Singapore’s Home Team Science & Technology Agency (HTX). The initiative is focused on advancing public safety applications, with a particular emphasis on emergency medical response.
The grant will support the development, testing, and validation of an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) use case for Vertical’s Valo aircraft platform, its commercial electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The project will explore how electric and hybrid-electric vertical flight solutions could enhance time-critical medical response operations, particularly for remote and island communities surrounding Singapore, where rapid access to advanced medical care can be challenging.
Advancing Emergency Medical Response Through Electric Aviation
Emergency Medical Services are among the most time-sensitive and mission-critical operations in any healthcare system. In densely populated urban centres and geographically dispersed regions alike, delays in patient transport can significantly affect survival rates and long-term outcomes. Singapore, with its combination of urban density, maritime activity, and nearby islands, presents a compelling environment for evaluating how Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions could complement existing emergency response infrastructure.
Through the Proof-of-Concept grant, Vertical Aerospace will investigate how its Valo aircraft could be adapted to support EMS missions, including patient transport, rapid medical evacuation, and first-responder support. The focus will be on understanding how vertical take-off aircraft—operating from compact landing zones and requiring minimal ground infrastructure—could reduce response times and improve access to critical care in scenarios where conventional ground or marine transport may be slower or less effective.
The project is designed to move beyond conceptual studies and into practical evaluation. By combining aircraft design expertise with real operational requirements from public safety stakeholders, Vertical aims to demonstrate how eVTOL and hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft could be safely integrated into emergency medical operations.
Scope of the Proof-of-Concept Programme
Under the Dimension X Cohort 7 programme, Vertical Aerospace will work closely with HTX, Hatch, and relevant operational stakeholders to deliver a comprehensive assessment of the EMS use case. The collaboration will focus on several core workstreams intended to address both operational feasibility and regulatory readiness.
One key component of the programme is the development of a detailed Emergency Medical Services Concept of Operations (ConOps). This framework will define how the aircraft would be deployed in real-world scenarios, covering mission profiles, dispatch procedures, coordination with existing emergency services, and integration with airspace management systems. Importantly, the ConOps will be aligned with Singapore’s operational and regulatory requirements, ensuring that safety, compliance, and reliability remain central to the evaluation.
In parallel, the project will generate operational insights into medical cabin configuration, examining how the Valo aircraft could be adapted to safely transport patients and support in-flight medical care. This includes considerations such as stretcher placement, medical equipment integration, access for paramedics, patient monitoring, and ergonomic design for emergency personnel. These insights are critical for ensuring that aircraft designed for urban air mobility can meet the stringent demands of medical transport missions.
The programme will also culminate in a proof-of-concept flight demonstration, aimed at assessing mission feasibility, safety performance, and response times. The demonstration will evaluate how effectively the aircraft can perform representative EMS missions, including take-off and landing operations, flight duration, and overall mission efficiency. Findings from this phase will inform future development and potential scaling of EMS applications.
The project is scheduled to run through April 2026, allowing sufficient time for detailed analysis, stakeholder engagement, and iterative refinement of concepts based on operational feedback.
Collaboration With Singapore’s Home Team
A distinguishing feature of the initiative is the close collaboration with Singapore’s Home Team, which encompasses public safety and security agencies responsible for law enforcement, civil defence, and emergency response. By working directly with end users and operational experts, Vertical Aerospace aims to ensure that its solutions are grounded in real-world needs rather than theoretical use cases.
The collaboration will explore how eVTOL and VTOL aircraft could complement existing emergency response systems, rather than replace them. This includes understanding how air mobility solutions could be deployed alongside ambulances, helicopters, and maritime assets to create a more flexible, resilient, and responsive emergency network.
For critical medical scenarios—such as cardiac emergencies, trauma incidents, or evacuations from hard-to-reach locations—even modest reductions in response time can translate into significantly improved patient outcomes. The programme will assess whether advanced air mobility can provide those time savings in a safe and operationally viable manner.
Recognition of Vertical’s Safety-First Approach
Vertical Aerospace was selected for the programme following a competitive evaluation process, highlighting the company’s emphasis on safety-first design, mission flexibility, and a credible certification strategy. Safety remains one of the most important considerations in the adoption of advanced air mobility, particularly for public safety and medical missions where reliability is non-negotiable.
The Valo aircraft platform has been designed with modular cabin capabilities, allowing it to be adapted for different mission profiles, including passenger transport, logistics, and emergency services. This flexibility was a key factor in Vertical’s selection, as it enables the same aircraft platform to support multiple operational roles while maintaining consistent safety standards.
In addition, Vertical’s approach to certification and regulatory engagement was recognised as an important strength. By working proactively with aviation authorities and aligning development with regulatory expectations, the company aims to facilitate smoother pathways from demonstration to operational deployment.
Building Foundations for Long-Term AAM Deployment
While the Proof-of-Concept grant focuses on a specific EMS use case, it also represents a broader step toward the long-term introduction of Advanced Air Mobility services in Singapore. The programme is viewed as a foundational phase that could inform future collaborations, expanded trials, and eventual operational services.
Singapore has emerged as a leading hub for AAM development in the Asia-Pacific region, supported by strong government backing, advanced infrastructure, and a progressive regulatory environment. The city-state’s efforts are led by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and supported by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), with a focus on enabling the safe introduction of next-generation aircraft and fostering a robust AAM ecosystem.
Initiatives such as the Dimension X Challenge play a crucial role in bridging the gap between innovation and implementation, allowing emerging technologies to be evaluated in realistic operational contexts. For companies like Vertical Aerospace, participation provides valuable insights into regional requirements while demonstrating commitment to safety, collaboration, and long-term market development.
Commenting on the announcement, Stuart Simpson, Chief Executive Officer of Vertical Aerospace, highlighted the strategic importance of the collaboration:
“We are proud to work closely with Singapore’s public-sector safety and security experts to explore how electric and hybrid-electric aircraft could support emergency response operations safely and effectively. This is an important step in making Advanced Air Mobility a reality in the region.”
Simpson emphasized that emergency medical response represents one of the most compelling early applications for advanced air mobility, given its clear societal benefits and strong alignment with safety-driven innovation.
Shao Hong Mok, Centre Director of Hatch and Senior Vice President of Innovations at TechX Ventures, also underscored the value of the partnership:
“Through the Dimension X Challenge, HTX partners industry innovators to explore how emerging technologies can responsively address real operational needs. Our collaboration with Vertical Aerospace allows us to assess the potential of Advanced Air Mobility for emergency medical response, while maintaining a strong focus on safety, regulation, and operational readiness.”
As the project progresses toward its 2026 completion, insights gained from the EMS proof-of-concept are expected to inform not only Vertical Aerospace’s future aircraft development but also broader discussions around the role of advanced air mobility in public safety and healthcare.
By combining electric aviation technology with real-world operational evaluation, the initiative reflects a growing global shift toward sustainable, efficient, and responsive air mobility solutions. For Singapore, it reinforces the nation’s ambition to serve as a testbed and leader for next-generation aviation. For Vertical Aerospace, it represents another milestone in translating innovative aircraft concepts into practical applications that deliver tangible public benefit.
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