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The European GNSS Agency (GSA) and the French Space Agency (CNES) sign a partnership agreement to implement EGNOS service performance monitoring.

The GSA and the French Space Agency (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) recently signed a Framework Partnership Agreement to implement EGNOS service performance monitoring. The agreement was confirmed at CNES Headquarters in Paris on 8 September.

Under the agreement, a Member States EGNOS service performance monitoring network will be established (SPMS). The network will enable Member States to support the GSA’s work on EGNOS – a key component to the development of European GNSS-based services. The SPMS network ensures access to a wide range of expertise and competence in GNSS by pulling from the existing capacities found in the Member States.

“This is the first time we leverage the competence of the European Member States through a co-financing tool specifically provided for by EU Regulation,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “This will be a powerful tool for the EGNOS programme.”

To form the building blocks of the SPMS network, CNES will act as the SPMS coordinator and will work with a range of relevant  institutions across Europe, including:

• INRIM (Italy) Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica
• Lantmäteriet (Sweden): Swedish mapping, cadastral and land registration authority
• NMA (Norway): Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket)
• PECNY (Czech Republic): Geodetic Observatory Pecny from the Research Institute of Geodesy, Topography and Cartography
• ROB (Belgium): Royal Observatory of Belgium
• SRC-PAS (Poland): Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Science
• SYRTE (France): Time/space reference systems laboratory of Observatoire de Paris

CNES, a pioneer in satellite navigation and one of the initial contributors to the establishment of an SBAS system in Europe, will lead the consortium of expertise from across Europe.

All SPMS network organisations possess and/or operate assets that will contribute to the EGNOS service performance monitoring activities. Specifically, the agreement focuses on such activities as:

• Monitoring of SBAS Service and Signal Performance
• Ad-hoc investigation of EGNOS abnormal events
• Technical support to EGNOS programme working groups

The GSA, CNES and its partners share a common objective in supporting the European GNSS programmes to their success and achievements. 

French version available here.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) and the French Space Agency (CNES) sign a partnership agreement to implement EGNOS service performance monitoring.

The GSA and the French Space Agency (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) recently signed a Framework Partnership Agreement to implement EGNOS service performance monitoring. The agreement was confirmed at CNES Headquarters in Paris on 8 September.

Under the agreement, a Member States EGNOS service performance monitoring network will be established (SPMS). The network will enable Member States to support the GSA’s work on EGNOS – a key component to the development of European GNSS-based services. The SPMS network ensures access to a wide range of expertise and competence in GNSS by pulling from the existing capacities found in the Member States.

“This is the first time we leverage the competence of the European Member States through a co-financing tool specifically provided for by EU Regulation,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “This will be a powerful tool for the EGNOS programme.”

To form the building blocks of the SPMS network, CNES will act as the SPMS coordinator and will work with a range of relevant  institutions across Europe, including:

• INRIM (Italy) Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica
• Lantmäteriet (Sweden): Swedish mapping, cadastral and land registration authority
• NMA (Norway): Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket)
• PECNY (Czech Republic): Geodetic Observatory Pecny from the Research Institute of Geodesy, Topography and Cartography
• ROB (Belgium): Royal Observatory of Belgium
• SRC-PAS (Poland): Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Science
• SYRTE (France): Time/space reference systems laboratory of Observatoire de Paris

CNES, a pioneer in satellite navigation and one of the initial contributors to the establishment of an SBAS system in Europe, will lead the consortium of expertise from across Europe.

All SPMS network organisations possess and/or operate assets that will contribute to the EGNOS service performance monitoring activities. Specifically, the agreement focuses on such activities as:

• Monitoring of SBAS Service and Signal Performance
• Ad-hoc investigation of EGNOS abnormal events
• Technical support to EGNOS programme working groups

The GSA, CNES and its partners share a common objective in supporting the European GNSS programmes to their success and achievements. 

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

Members of the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) Market Development Team will highlight FP7 success stories and discuss funding opportunities available under the Horizon 2020 programme.

The second Satellite Masters Conference is set to take place on October 20 – 22 at the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure in Berlin. The conference focuses on satellite navigation and Earth observation and offers insights into new applications and technological development from experts, as well as innovative start-ups.

A key part of the conference is the European GNSS R&D Day, scheduled for October 22nd. The 7th Framework Programme was the EU’s main funding source and has supported research, development and innovation in global satellite technology. The day-long event will feature success stories on research applications and instruments that are enhancing Europe’s GNSS programmes.

         View the Full Programme Here

GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini, will start the programme with a discussion entitled “From Research Applications to Market – FP7 Results”. The morning includes three separate sessions, including one on Mass Market, Professional and Transportation. Another part of the event will be dedicated to Horizon 2020 and several examples of projects that have received funding from this programme will be presented.

The afternoon session will include a roundtable session entitled “Space Entrepreneurship Programmes and Finance” the Q&A session will follow.

European Satellite Navigation Competition

The Satellite Masters Conference will also host the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) award ceremony. With the Galileo satellite constellation continually expanding, there is an increasing need for corresponding applications. The ESNC recognizes creative GNSS-based applications that address specific business applications or have a demonstrated impact on social issues. The winner, who is selected from the winners of 30 regional and special prizes, will be awarded the grand prize of EUR 20,000 and a six-month incubation programme in their region of choice, with the possibility of another six-month extension.

    Also Read: Do You Have the Next Best Idea for Satellite Navigation?

This year the GSA is again sponsoring a Special Prize for the Most Promising Application for European GNSS, which aims to support the development of applications that rely on both EGNOS and Galileo and provide social and economic benefits.

Last year, the competition received more than 600 business cases from about 50 companies.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

The ERSAT EAV project will demonstrate how EGNSS can work with future European train management systems, boosting safety and reducing costs.

There is widespread agreement between policy-makers and rail industry stakeholders in Europe that cost effective synergies between the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) and satellite technologies, such as Galileo and EGNOS, can help make rail transport more efficient, more reliable and further improve safety.

“The ERSAT EAV project represents the missing link between ERTMS and Galileo, both major European industrial projects of strategic relevance,” says Francesco Rispoli, Manager of satellite technologies of Ansaldo STS. “EGNOS and Galileo are key enabling technologies for a market driven step change in the rail sector.”

Harmonised System

ERTMS is the harmonised train control and command system for Europe that will enable the creation of a seamless European railway system, increasing European railways’ competitiveness. It has two components: the European Train Control System (ETCS), an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, and GSM-R, a radio system for providing voice and data communication between track and train.

The ERSAT EAV (ERTMS on Satellite – Enabling Application and Validation) project aims to assist EGNSS (EGNOS and Galileo) uptake in the rail sector in Europe and beyond, fostering competition and innovation in the European space and rail industry and research community. The project can enable ERTMS to take advantage of the “competitivity-dividend” that EGNOS and Galileo satellite technologies promise.

“The main ERSAT EAV objective is to exploit EGNSS for supporting ERTMS deployment,” explains Francesco. “In particular the project focuses on regional lines, for which a safe and reliable positioning or localisation of the trains, based on EGNOS and supplemented by local augmentation means, will be defined and developed, as a contribution  for harmonisation with the European ERTMS standard.”

The solution will be implemented on a pilot line as reference.

Regional opportunity for ERTMS deployment

Regional and local railways lines are a particular target application. Use of EGNSS could provide an economically sustainable ERTMS solution for the modernisation of these lines that are often older and more costly to operate. They also represent an enormous opportunity, as local and regional rail lines represent about 50% of the total railway track length in Europe of around 348 000 kilometres. A study by Bocconi University, one of the project partners, shows very large net benefits in the order of tens of billions of Euros for the implementation of EGNSS based ERTMS on European local rail lines.

The project will provide the first European platform for developing and validating EGNSS applications that are compatible with ERTMS. “Verification and testing will take place in a real operational environment,” says Francesco. “This will contribute to implementing EGNSS positioning under the challenging requirements of railways. Demonstrating the system solution on a real pilot line with the supervision of ANSF (the Italian Safety Agency for Rail) will act as a clear reference for the future standardisation and certification processes.”

The ERSAT EAV demonstrator unit will be deployed and tested in Sardinia on the Cagliari – San Gavino railways line.

The project held its kick-off meeting on 31 March in Genoa and is a two-year Horizon 2020 project with 12 partners (including RFI, Trenitalia and DB Netz - the leading European rail stakeholders). The project is funded by the GSA and co-ordinated by Ansaldo STS. Ansaldo STS SpA is an Italian global transportation company in the field of signalling and integrated transport systems especially in mass transit and rail applications.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

The European GNSS Agency (GSA) and European Space Agency (ESA) met to formally launch activities related to a recently signed working agreement for EGNOS, creating a strong foundation for the navigation system to further develop.

Following the signing of a working agreement for EGNOS in July, the GSA and ESA met last week to coordinate on a roadmap for the system’s future. The working agreement created a strong base for the navigation system to develop further, and the meeting in Toulouse provided an opportunity for the two parties to set specific goals for organisation, procurement processes, standardisation, and planning.

“This working agreement ensures that the future versions of EGNOS deliver major technical improvements, leveraging ESA’s expertise in EGNOS system evolutions,” said GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “These evolutions will enable GSA to ensure that Europe’s space technology continues to meet users’ evolving performance requirements.”

As Europe’s first concrete venture into satellite navigation, EGNOS uses geostationary satellites and a network of ground stations to receive, analyse and augment GPS. EGNOS increases accuracy of existing satellite positioning signals, provides for an integrity message and transmits an accurate universal time signal.

The working agreement sets general conditions for implementation of tasks related to the design of new versions of EGNOS. It outlines procurement, technical and programme management elements between GSA and ESA. Under the agreement, ESA will be responsible for the development and procurement of future EGNOS evolutions, such as the forthcoming release of V2.4.2, and a new generation of the EGNOS system (V3). ESA will report regularly to the GSA on its progress through the duration of the contract, which runs until March 2021, with a comprehensive review set for early 2017.

“I have many expectations,” adds des Dorides. ”And I fully believe this renewed cooperation will be the foundation of the EU GNSS Programmes’ success.”

The agreement is in line with the governance scheme established by EU Regulation 1285/2013 and EGNOS tasks delegated to the GSA by the European Commission.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

European GNSS Agency (GSA) launches R&D support for the advancement of European GNSS chipset and receiver technologies.

To enable the adoption of Galileo and EGNOS-powered services across all market segments, the GSA has launched a new R&D funding mechanism supporting the development of chipsets and receivers. This ‘Fundamental Elements’ programme supports activities to be carried out from 2015 – 2020 with a projected budget of EUR 100 million.

The Fundamental Elements programme is part of an overall strategy of market uptake initiatives led by the GSA and in accordance with EU regulation. The main aim of the programme is to facilitate the development of applications across different sectors of the economy and promote the development of fundamental elements relating to EGNOS and Galileo, including Galileo-enabled chipsets and receivers.

“For the first time, EU Regulation provides a financing tool for the market uptake of European GNSS chipsets and receivers,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “The GSA will be instrumental in ensuring that the new Fundamental Elements programme contributes to the successful integration of Galileo and EGNOS.”

Fundamental Elements and H2020

Fundamental Elements complements the EU’s Horizon 2020 research programme.  While Horizon 2020 aims to foster adoption of Galileo and EGNOS via content and application development, While Fundamental Elements projects will focus on supporting the development of innovative chipset and receiver technologies, Horizon 2020 projects focus on the integration of services provided by Galileo and EGNOS into devices and their commercialisation. 

Financing

Fundamental Elements will provide two types of financing:  grants and procurement. Grants will be provided with financing currently foreseen for up to 70 % of the total value of the grant agreement. Intellectual property rights will stay with the beneficiary under the condition that the developed product is aimed at commercialisation. 

In the case of grants, the GSA publishes two annual Grant Plans, one for EGNOS and another for Galileo. These Plans indicate the envisaged grants to be awarded per year. The Fundamental Elements grants are included in these Plans and can be consulted prior to the publication of the Call for Proposals.  The annual Grant Plans include a brief description of the projects and the indicative budget and timings.

Grant Plans can be consulted here.

Procurement will be used only in cases where keeping intellectual property rights allow for the better fulfilment of the programme’s objectives. For example, by licensing it to different potential manufacturers rather than creating a monopolistic situation. For procurement, the projects will be financed 100%. Prior Information Notices, as well as the actual tenders, are available in the GSA website and EU Official Journal.

Information on the call and submission details can be found here.

More details on informational events covering Fundamental Elements will be made available on GSA website.

The GSA manages the Fundamental Elements programme on behalf of the European Commission.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

European GNSS Agency (GSA) launches R&D support for the advancement of European GNSS chipset and receiver technologies.

To enable the adoption of Galileo and EGNOS-powered services across all market segments, the GSA has launched a new R&D funding mechanism supporting the development of chipsets and receivers. This ‘Fundamental Elements’ programme supports activities to be carried out from 2015 – 2020 with a projected budget of EUR 100 million.

The Fundamental Elements programme is part of an overall strategy of market uptake initiatives led by the GSA and in accordance with EU regulation. The main aim of the programme is to facilitate the development of applications across different sectors of the economy and promote the development of fundamental elements relating to EGNOS and Galileo, including Galileo-enabled chipsets and receivers.

“For the first time, EU Regulation provides a financing tool for the market uptake of European GNSS chipsets and receivers,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “The GSA will be instrumental in ensuring that the new Fundamental Elements programme contributes to the successful integration of Galileo and EGNOS.”

Fundamental Elements and H2020

Fundamental Elements complements the EU’s Horizon 2020 research programme.  While Horizon 2020 aims to foster adoption of Galileo and EGNOS via content and application development, While Fundamental Elements projects will focus on supporting the development of innovative chipset and receiver technologies, Horizon 2020 projects focus on the integration of services provided by Galileo and EGNOS into devices and their commercialisation. 

Financing

Fundamental Elements will provide two types of financing:  grants and procurement. Grants will be provided with financing currently foreseen for up to 70 % of the total value of the grant agreement. Intellectual property rights will stay with the beneficiary under the condition that the developed product is aimed at commercialisation. 

In the case of grants, the GSA publishes two annual Grant Plans, one for EGNOS and another for Galileo. These Plans indicate the envisaged grants to be awarded per year. The Fundamental Elements grants are included in these Plans and can be consulted prior to the publication of the Call for Proposals.  The annual Grant Plans include a brief description of the projects and the indicative budget and timings.

Grant Plans can be consulted here.

Procurement will be used only in cases where keeping intellectual property rights allow for the better fulfilment of the programme’s objectives. For example, by licensing it to different potential manufacturers rather than creating a monopolistic situation. For procurement, the projects will be financed 100%. Prior Information Notices, as well as the actual tenders, are available in the GSA website and EU Official Journal.

Information on the call and submission details can be found here.

More details on informational events covering Fundamental Elements will be made available on GSA website.

The GSA manages the Fundamental Elements programme on behalf of the European Commission.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

European GNSS Agency (GSA) launches R&D support for the advancement of European GNSS chipset and receiver technologies.

To enable the adoption of Galileo and EGNOS-powered services across all market segments, the GSA has launched a new R&D funding mechanism supporting the development of chipsets and receivers. This ‘Fundamental Elements’ programme supports activities to be carried out from 2015 – 2020 with a projected budget of EUR 100 million.

The Fundamental Elements programme is part of an overall strategy of market uptake initiatives led by the GSA and in accordance with EU regulation. The main aim of the programme is to facilitate the development of applications across different sectors of the economy and promote the development of fundamental elements relating to EGNOS and Galileo, including Galileo-enabled chipsets and receivers.

“For the first time, EU Regulation provides a financing tool for the market uptake of European GNSS chipsets and receivers,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “The GSA will be instrumental in ensuring that the new Fundamental Elements programme contributes to the successful integration of Galileo and EGNOS.”

Fundamental Elements and H2020

Fundamental Elements complements the EU’s Horizon 2020 research programme.  While Horizon 2020 aims to foster adoption of Galileo and EGNOS via content and application development, While Fundamental Elements projects will focus on supporting the development of innovative chipset and receiver technologies, Horizon 2020 projects focus on the integration of services provided by Galileo and EGNOS into devices and their commercialisation. 

Financing

Fundamental Elements will provide two types of financing:  grants and procurement. Grants will be provided with financing currently foreseen for up to 70 % of the total value of the grant agreement. Intellectual property rights will stay with the beneficiary under the condition that the developed product is aimed at commercialisation. 

In the case of grants, the GSA publishes two annual Grant Plans, one for EGNOS and another for Galileo. These Plans indicate the envisaged grants to be awarded per year. The Fundamental Elements grants are included in these Plans and can be consulted prior to the publication of the Call for Proposals.  The annual Grant Plans include a brief description of the projects and the indicative budget and timings.

Grant Plans can be consulted here.

Procurement will be used only in cases where keeping intellectual property rights allow for the better fulfilment of the programme’s objectives. For example, by licensing it to different potential manufacturers rather than creating a monopolistic situation. For procurement, the projects will be financed 100%. Prior Information Notices, as well as the actual tenders, are available in the GSA website and EU Official Journal.

Information on the call and submission details can be found here.

More details on informational events covering Fundamental Elements will be made available on GSA website.

The GSA manages the Fundamental Elements programme on behalf of the European Commission.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).