PrecisionHawk, a drone technology startup based in Raleigh, is one of 30 companies named Technology Pioneers for 2016 by the World Economic Forum.

The awards winners were announced today in Tianjin, China.

“To be acknowledged as a technology pioneer by the World Economic Forum is a great honor. Drones, and most importantly the information they provide, are a critical solution to increasing the work being done in agriculture, environmental protection, energy, and many others, without the huge cost or increase in footprint,” said co-founder Ernest Earon. “We believe that this platform will open the doors to new networks and relationships that will help us to more rapidly integrate this new technology into existing systems and industries around the world.”

Precision was cited for its “ecosystem” that “includes a drone, aerial data collection sensors, a data analytics platform and flight safety platform.”

“These tools together provide actionable intelligence to businesses in a more efficient and cost effective way,” the WEF said. (Watch a video about the Pioneers at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=J-v5H5SW8B0 )

PrecisionHawk, which raised $18 million from investors in April, is based in Raleigh but also has offices in other countries.

The company was selected from hundreds of candidates.

“We welcome PrecisionHawk in this group of extraordinary pioneers,” said Fulvia Montresor, Head of Technology Pioneers at the World Economic Forum. “PrecisionHawk is among those companies that help shape the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work and relate to one another. Through the platform of the World Economic Forum, it will be able to scale and share its technology and achieve a larger impact.”

Of the 30 2016 winners, 22 are from the U.S.

For more about the WEF program, see:

http://wef.ch/techpioneers