GSA launches 2009 EGNOS Application Prize

Entrepreneurs with a commercial plan to use the EGNOS satellite navigation signal have a chance to make their vision a reality by entering the Special Topic Prize for the most promising EGNOS application idea, which the GSA offers in line with the European Satellite Navigation Competition 2009.

The main aim of the Prize is to raise awareness across Europe of the commercial opportunities created by EGNOS, the first European satellite navigation system, and demonstrate its business potential while stimulating innovation in the continent's GNSS markets.

EGNOS – a showcase for Galileo
EGNOS improves the accuracy of the GPS satellite navigation signals. In addition, EGNOS provides verification of the system's integrity, a feature necessary to meet the demands of safety-critical applications in sectors such as aviation, maritime and emergency services. EGNOS is the precursor to Galileo, a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) in the process of being developed by Europe.

“EGNOS' superior location accuracy and integrity provides Europe's entrepreneurs with the opportunity to create a whole new range of commercial applications and services, explained Pedro Pedreira, Executive Director of the European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA). “The GSA's Special Topic Prize is especially relevant this year as EGNOS is now in operation and ready for use. I invite you to take the opportunity of this competition to develop new uses for the service. EGNOS is the best showcase for Galileo.”

Special Topic Prize details
The GSA's Special Topic Prize is one of eight being offered by the European Satellite Navigation Competition. There are also 17 regional prizes in addition to the Galileo Masters' top award.

The winner of the GSA prize will have the opportunity to realise his or her idea at a suitable incubation centre of their choice in the EU for up to 12 months. The winner must submit their “most promising EGNOS application idea.”

In making use of the EGNOS signal or services, applications will be evaluated on the: Uniqueness and originality of the idea

Business potential of the idea
Credibility of the management team
Exploitation of EGNOS
In addition, applicants must propose an idea that involves an application for which EGNOS location positioning data is a key function. The EGNOS signal or the EGNOS Data Access System (EDAS) can be used for the application.

EDAS, which is a main pillar of the EGNOS Commercial Service, provides EGNOS' raw data to users in real-time and within guaranteed delay, security and performance parameters. A free train of the EDAS service was launched in March 2009 along with a related Internet portal, providing users with sub-metre precision.

Last year's GSA Special Topic Prize winner was British company, Sci-Tech Systems, which proposed to use EGNOS to locate people who are lost overboard at sea. The proposal also won the GALILEO Masters prize, the top award at the competition, and the regional prize jointly awarded by the United Kingdom and Ireland. As a result of the award the company has moved to the premises of the Hertfordshire Business and Technology Center in Stevenage, United Kingdom, where they are currently developing a prototype.

The European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA), a European Community agency, works with the European Commission on a range of market development activities aimed at helping European entrepreneurs and businesses commercially exploit EGNOS and Galileo. Partnering the European Satellite Navigation Competition, an international ideas contest that is looking for commercially viable application ideas of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) is one of such promotional activities addressing especially high tech small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

For more information on the GSA's Special Topic Prize and to submit ideas for innovative EGNOS applications please go to http://galileo-masters.eu/index.php?anzeige=special_prizes_gsa.html before July 31.

Press contacts:
European Satellite Navigation Competition
Ulrike Daniels
Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen
Sonderflughafen Oberpfaffenhofen, Gebäude 319
82205 Gilching
Germany
Tel.: +49(0)8152-9099047
Fax: +49(0)8153-987555
daniels@anwendungszentrum.de
European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA)
Donna Reay
Head of Information and Outreach
Rue de la Loi, 56 (L-56, 08/85)
B-1049 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 298 52 10
Fax: +32 2 296 72 38
Mobile: + 32 498 98 52 10
Email: donna.reay@gsa.europa.eu
http://www.gsa.europa.eu
Facts and data on the European Satellite Navigation Competition
The European Satellite Navigation Competition is an international innovation contest that awards the best ideas for applications in satellite navigation. The competition has been organised by Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen since 2004 and is oriented toward companies, entrepreneurs, research institutes, universities, and private individuals. Having begun with three partner regions, this year's ESNC will be held in 17 high-tech regions all over the world: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Nice / Sophia Antipolis, Prague, South Holland, Madrid, Lombardy, Australia, Taiwan, and Great Britain, as well as newcomers Øresund, Gipuzkoa, Switzerland, and Israel.
The ESNC is intended to further strengthen international collaboration among these regions, particular with regard to the development of applications and services made possible by the European satellite navigation system Galileo. The competition is held under the patronage of the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology and is supported by Messe München GmbH. The main winners of the ESNC – the GALILEO Master, the special prize winners, and the 17 regional winners – will be recognised at a state reception to be held at the Munich Residenz on October 21, 2009.

www.galileo-masters.eu

What is EGNOS?

The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) is Europe's first venture into satellite navigation and is a precursor to Galileo, the full global satellite navigation system under development in Europe. It augments GPS, and makes it suitable for safety critical applications such as flying aircraft or navigating ships through narrow channels. Consisting of three geostationary satellites and a network of ground stations, EGNOS achieves its aim by transmitting a signal containing information on the reliability and accuracy of the positioning signals sent out by GPS. It allows users in Europe to determine their position to within 1 metre.

EGNOS entered its pre-operational phase in 2006. It is progressively being brought into service and will undergo certifications for safety-of-life applications. With the handover of EGNOS to the European Community on 1 April 2009, a milestone was achieved paving the way for EGNOS to begin formal operations later this year. The EGNOS Data Access System (EDAS) (http://egnos-edas.gsa.europa.eu) was launched by the GSA in March 2009 as a free 12 months beta test bed for companies. The ground-based service provides access to EGNOS' raw location data via a link to a dedicated computer server.

http://www.gsa.europa.eu