"Proceed 100 meters and then turn" - that's a familiar directive for today's drivers. But how many know that the signals that guide car drivers through unknown territory are not only revolutionizing the transport and logistics industry, but tapping into many new markets as well? The accurate positioning and precise time signals provided by satellite navigation are ushering in a new generation of gaming, one that blurs the line between virtual and reality.
Gaming is just one market segment of the global growth market for satellite navigation, which is projected to achieve a volume of €470 billion by 2025, according to a study conducted by GJU. Cell phones with integrated GPS chips are conquering the mobile navigation market, and the transport and logistics industry is benefiting like no other from the enormous savings potential offered by satellite navigation.
To demonstrate the enormous potential of GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and other systems and promote new commercial developments, Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen will commence the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) - already in its fifth year - on May 1. Under the patronage of the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport, and Technology, with the support of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and in cooperation with the ICT trade show SYSTEMS, the ESNC is looking for the best (business-applicable) ideas from its 13 partner regions located throughout the world.
Among the prizewinners in years past have been a racing video game featuring real-time integration into real-life sporting events, an electronic car-sharing system, a satellite-controlled "weed robot," a landmine detection system, and a virtual postal community that incorporates package recipients themselves into the delivery process.
In addition to the grand prize - €20,000 and comprehensive support in realizing the winning innovation - four special prizes will be awarded by sponsors from research and industry.
Fast, accurate, fun, green
The European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA) is searching for promising solutions that apply the improved accuracy and integrity of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) to tap into new - particularly security-critical - fields. The winning innovation will be granted up to 12 months of support at the European incubation center of its choice.
The technology transfer program of the European Space Agency (ESA) is also turning to the ESNC as an application platform for Galileo and EGNOS and a means of investing in specific new ventures at the European level. With its innovation prize, it is thus focusing on ideas that can be realized both quickly and for the long term. The program has already transformed more than 200 aerospace technologies into commercial applications - many of them at its ESA Business Incubation Centres, one of which will also be available to the winner of its prize to bring its innovation to market as quickly as possible.
The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) of Taiwan will award its prize to the best gaming concept, regardless of genre, platform, or number of possible players. The institute will instead reward the winning innovation with €20,000 and a trip to Taiwan based on originality, feasibility, and market potential.
T-Systems - the business customer segment of Deutsche Telekom - and the DHL Innovation Center of Deutsche Post World Net have joined forces to find an innovative means of optimizing the freight volume of its 130,000 DHL delivery vehicles. With transport traffic growing worldwide, information on freight volume is key to increasing efficiency in logistics, thereby reducing both costs and CO2 emissions. The winner will have the chance to implement its concept along with T-Systems at the DHL Innovation Center.
Application ideas involving any aspect of satellite navigation can be submitted from May 1 to July 31 at www.galileo-masters.com.
Information on the European Satellite Navigation Competition
The European Satellite Navigation Competition is an international innovation contest that awards the best ideas for innovative applications in the field of satellite navigation. Organized annually since 2004 by Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen and SYSTEMS, the ESNC is oriented toward companies, entrepreneurs, research institutes, universities, and private individuals. Since its inception, the competition has grown from including three partner regions to 13 high-tech regions of Europe: Bavaria, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, Nice / Sophia Antipolis, Prague, South Holland, Madrid, Lombardy, Great Britain, and this year's new regions, Queensland / Australia, Taipei / Taiwan, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
The goal of the ESNC is to continue to strengthen the international collaboration of these regions, particularly with regard to the development of applications and services made possible by the European satellite navigation system Galileo. The ESNC is carried out under the patronage of the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport, and Technology with the support of the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
The grand prize winner - the GALILEO Master - will be awarded along with the special prize winners and the 13 regional winners on October 21, 2008 at a state reception to be held at the Munich Residenz. They will also have the chance to present their ideas and applications to a wide audience of ICT decision-makers from October 21-24 at this year's SYSTEMS trade show in Munich.
Gaming is just one market segment of the global growth market for satellite navigation, which is projected to achieve a volume of €470 billion by 2025, according to a study conducted by GJU. Cell phones with integrated GPS chips are conquering the mobile navigation market, and the transport and logistics industry is benefiting like no other from the enormous savings potential offered by satellite navigation.
To demonstrate the enormous potential of GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and other systems and promote new commercial developments, Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen will commence the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) - already in its fifth year - on May 1. Under the patronage of the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport, and Technology, with the support of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and in cooperation with the ICT trade show SYSTEMS, the ESNC is looking for the best (business-applicable) ideas from its 13 partner regions located throughout the world.
Among the prizewinners in years past have been a racing video game featuring real-time integration into real-life sporting events, an electronic car-sharing system, a satellite-controlled "weed robot," a landmine detection system, and a virtual postal community that incorporates package recipients themselves into the delivery process.
In addition to the grand prize - €20,000 and comprehensive support in realizing the winning innovation - four special prizes will be awarded by sponsors from research and industry.
Fast, accurate, fun, green
The European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA) is searching for promising solutions that apply the improved accuracy and integrity of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) to tap into new - particularly security-critical - fields. The winning innovation will be granted up to 12 months of support at the European incubation center of its choice.
The technology transfer program of the European Space Agency (ESA) is also turning to the ESNC as an application platform for Galileo and EGNOS and a means of investing in specific new ventures at the European level. With its innovation prize, it is thus focusing on ideas that can be realized both quickly and for the long term. The program has already transformed more than 200 aerospace technologies into commercial applications - many of them at its ESA Business Incubation Centres, one of which will also be available to the winner of its prize to bring its innovation to market as quickly as possible.
The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) of Taiwan will award its prize to the best gaming concept, regardless of genre, platform, or number of possible players. The institute will instead reward the winning innovation with €20,000 and a trip to Taiwan based on originality, feasibility, and market potential.
T-Systems - the business customer segment of Deutsche Telekom - and the DHL Innovation Center of Deutsche Post World Net have joined forces to find an innovative means of optimizing the freight volume of its 130,000 DHL delivery vehicles. With transport traffic growing worldwide, information on freight volume is key to increasing efficiency in logistics, thereby reducing both costs and CO2 emissions. The winner will have the chance to implement its concept along with T-Systems at the DHL Innovation Center.
Application ideas involving any aspect of satellite navigation can be submitted from May 1 to July 31 at www.galileo-masters.com.
Information on the European Satellite Navigation Competition
The European Satellite Navigation Competition is an international innovation contest that awards the best ideas for innovative applications in the field of satellite navigation. Organized annually since 2004 by Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen and SYSTEMS, the ESNC is oriented toward companies, entrepreneurs, research institutes, universities, and private individuals. Since its inception, the competition has grown from including three partner regions to 13 high-tech regions of Europe: Bavaria, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, Nice / Sophia Antipolis, Prague, South Holland, Madrid, Lombardy, Great Britain, and this year's new regions, Queensland / Australia, Taipei / Taiwan, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
The goal of the ESNC is to continue to strengthen the international collaboration of these regions, particularly with regard to the development of applications and services made possible by the European satellite navigation system Galileo. The ESNC is carried out under the patronage of the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport, and Technology with the support of the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
The grand prize winner - the GALILEO Master - will be awarded along with the special prize winners and the 13 regional winners on October 21, 2008 at a state reception to be held at the Munich Residenz. They will also have the chance to present their ideas and applications to a wide audience of ICT decision-makers from October 21-24 at this year's SYSTEMS trade show in Munich.
