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Our mission is to link space to user needs, but to do that, we need to hear from you. The EUSPA Galileo and EGNOS User Satisfaction Survey is your chance to tell us what you think about the two programmes and share your thoughts on how to make the services they provide even better.   

“The survey collects a range of valuable information from users like you,” says EUSPA Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa. “From your perception of and expectations for Galileo and EGNOS to suggestions for improvements, this is a unique opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas.”

Addressing specific market segments 

The survey is for the first time combining EGNOS and Galileo with harmonised structures for users who want to assess both services.

It addresses a specific market segment, including aviation and drones, maritime and inland waterways, rail, road and automotive, consumer solutions, agriculture, infrastructure – and more. Start by selecting the segment (or segments) most important to you or your company, then answer a few simple questions – that’s all there is to it.

The EGNOS part of the survey also covers all EGNOS services, including the Open Service, Safety of Life Service and EGNOS Data Access Service (EDAS). While the Galileo User part of the survey includes questions about improving the services provided by the European GNSS Service Centre (GSC), the EGNOS part asks about the EGNOS service provider’s management of user's interfaces.  

Ready to get started? You can take the User Satisfaction Survey here.

Make a BIG difference in a short time

Although the survey will only take a few minutes of your time, your input will make a big difference in the evolution of the EU Space Programme. “EUSPA looks forward to receiving your feedback, which we will use to improve Galileo and EGNOS to better meet your evolving needs,” adds da Costa.   

The survey results will be compiled into reports and made available to the public next year. The results of last year’s surveys can be found in the 2021 Galileo User Satisfaction Survey Report and  EGNOS User Satisfaction Report.  

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) 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 EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

If oil and gas were once considered the ‘new gold’, then lithium and rare-earth elements (REE) are the new oil and gas. 

Whereas oil and gas boomed thanks to the development of the automobile, global trade and the plastics industry, lithium and REE are key to a wide array of high-tech and climate applications, including solar and wind energy, mobile phones, computers and electric vehicles. “We are experiencing a global race for the supply and recycling of critical raw materials,” confirmed Commissioner Breton.

Furthermore, like oil and gas, if the EU does not take strategic steps to shore up its reserves of lithium and REE today , it risks becoming dependent on supply from other countries – a dependency that could impact the green transition .  

“Without secure and sustainable access to the necessary raw materials, our ambition to become the first climate neutral continent is at risk… we will not lead the digital decade and we will not be able to develop our defence capabilities,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her state of the European Union address.

In an effort to mitigate the EU’s dependence on the extraction, processing and recycling of critical raw materials, a European Critical Raw Materials Act has been announced. The Act aims to build up reserves where supply is at risk by identifying potential strategic projects along the entire supply chain.  The strategic raw materials are essential for the EU economic interest. 

As said by the European Commission President “Let's make sure the future of industry is made in Europe.”

Not only made in Europe but also supported by European projects and technology – including the EU Space Programme. 

The mining sector was an early adopter of augmented GNSS solutions, using it for everything from surveying mining sites to accessing remote areas and enabling the safe operation of heavy machinery. Now, with many mining activities becoming increasingly automated, GNSS has become a key enabler for the management of mining operations. 

The raw materials sector also depends on Earth Observation (EO). For example, companies can use hyperspectral imagery at the exploration stage to assess the abundancy of certain metals and minerals. When the mine site is up and running, high-resolution EO data is used to monitor many aspects of   operations, including pit slopes and ground motion effects. Even when a mining site closes, Earth Observation plays an important role in environmental monitoring, rehabilitation and waste management. 

The synergistic use of EO and GNSS is a golden opportunity for the raw materials sector

While GNSS and Earth Observation are powerful tools in their own right, the raw materials sector stands to benefit the most when these solutions are used in synergy. That’s why the European Commission is supporting such initiatives as the GOLDENEYE project.

The innovative platform proposed by GOLDENEYE, combines remote sensing and positioning technologies to take advantage of Earth Observation and GNSS data, together with data fusion and processing powered by data analytics and machine learning algorithms. The result is an increase in mine productivity and in a company’s ability to monitor and control an operation’s environmental impact.

With the raw materials sector already leveraging the benefits of GNSS and Earth Observation for it is whole life-cycle from exploration to, operations and closure thus boosting efficiency, automation, safety and environmental management of mining operations, EU Space is well-placed to play a pivotal role in ensuring the battery metals independence envisioned by the European Critical Raw Materials Act. 

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) 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 EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

Have an idea for a commercial application that leverages the power of the EU Space Programme? Looking for support to turn that idea into a prototype or to take it to market? Then check out the #myEUspace 2022 competition! 

The annual competition, which is organised by the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) as part of the European Commission’s CASSINI – Space Entrepreneurship Initiative, challenges innovators and entrepreneurs to create game-changing commercial solutions that use data coming from Galileo, Copernicus or both. 

“Space data is at the heart of the technological revolution currently sweeping Europe, and this competition is another example of how EUSPA supports innovative entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs from across the EU who are leveraging Copernicus and Galileo data, information and services, during the different steps of their evolution cycle,” says EUSPA Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa.

While ideas can range from mobile applications to hardware-based solutions, all must be tied to one of three targeted innovation areas:

• Space My Life: Consumer solutions like mobile applications, wearables (smart watches, smart glasses, fitness trackers, etc.), drones or robotics that address major societal challenges in focus areas such as health, citizen safety and security, gaming and entertainment, sports and fitness, and tourism.

• Our Green Planet: Innovative solutions addressing environmental challenges and sustainable life and that contribute to the implementation of the European Green Deal, as well as solutions that aid the green transformation of corporations. The proposed solutions must address major societal challenges in focus areas such as the conservation of ecosystems, green mobility, sustainable agriculture and the management of energy and resources.

• Dive in Deep Tech: Innovative solutions that combine EU Space data with deep technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), quantum (quantum computing, sensing, simulation, encryption, etc.), blockchain, the metaverse and extended reality (augmented reality [AR], mixed reality [MR], virtual reality [VR]). The proposed solutions must address major societal challenges in focus areas such as biotech, medtech and fintech.

Ready, set, disrupt!

The #myEUspace competition is open to teams from all EU Member States plus Switzerland, Norway and Iceland and has a total prize purse of nearly EUR 1 million. In addition to the cash prize, the competition provides support to entrepreneurs during the entire innovation cycle, from early-stage start-ups to scale-ups.  

“Start-ups and entrepreneurs are particularly enthusiastic about embracing the potential offered by the EU Space Programme and translating it into the innovative solutions that are sure to disrupt a wide range of sectors,” says EUSPA Head of Market, Downstream and Innovation Fiammetta Diani. “The #myEUspace competition can help you turn that enthusiasm into action – and success.”

Depending on the maturity of the solution at the time of submission, entrepreneurs can compete and win in three different prize tracks:

• Best Ideas: for promising theoretical ideas that leverage EU space data and have a high market potential. The best 15 ideas will receive a cash prize of EUR 10K each.

• Best Prototypes: for tested prototypes or beta versions that you want to bring to market. The 10 best prototypes will receive a cash prize of EUR 30K each.

• Best Products: for existing commercial products that are looking to scale-up. The 5 best products will receive a cash prize of EUR 100K each.

Teams who win in one category can take the same award-winning idea or prototype and apply again in another track to compete and win additional prizes!

The details

All applications will be assessed based on their innovativeness, market potential, feasibility, relevance to the EU Space Programme and operational capacity. Awarded teams will be invited to showcase their solutions to the public and investors during the Contest Finals, part of next June’s Entrepreneurship Day.

You can find more information about the contest and how to apply here . 

The application platform is now open for all three tracks and the application process is very easy! 

The deadline for the Best Ideas track is 30 November 2022, 10 February 2023 for the Best Prototype track, and 23 April 2023 for the Best Products track.

To learn more, join us on 25 October for a webinar where EUSPA experts will provide an overview of the competition and answer all your questions. Register here.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) 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 EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).