Natlink has acquired Heartrunner Sweden AB for an undisclosed amount, a strategic move that integrates a leading emergency response technology into Natlink's operations. Heartrunner Sweden AB, established by scientists in 2010, is dedicated to developing advanced systems that engage citizen responders to assist victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Its innovative platforms, known as Sms-livräddare in Sweden and TrygFonden Hjerteløber in Denmark, have garnered a strong scientific track record for significantly improving survival rates.
The core of Heartrunner's technology lies in its ability to precisely locate volunteer citizen responders who have downloaded its dedicated app. Upon detection of a suspected cardiac arrest, the system promptly alerts these volunteers to the incident's location. Furthermore, it enhances their effectiveness by displaying data from national and regional AED registries within the app, guiding responders directly to nearby automated external defibrillators. This system, developed in close collaboration with researchers at Karolinska Institutet, has demonstrated its life-saving impact; recent 12-month data from its Copenhagen installation revealed a threefold increase in bystander defibrillation, from 7% to 23%, in instances where volunteer lifesavers were the first on scene.
This acquisition represents a significant strategic alignment for Natlink, bringing Heartrunner's scientifically validated and impactful technology under its umbrella. The integration is expected to create substantial synergies, enabling the accelerated and broader deployment of Heartrunner's proven system. Natlink's operational framework is anticipated to facilitate the expansion of this critical life-saving infrastructure, enhancing community preparedness and response capabilities for cardiac emergencies across new regions.
The combined entity is now positioned to further advance the vital mission of increasing survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Through this acquisition, Natlink aims to scale the availability and effectiveness of citizen responder systems, leveraging Heartrunner's innovative platform to potentially save more lives and strengthen emergency response networks on a wider scale.