TÜV SÜD grants awards to the most innovative Galileo applications

TÜV SÜD grants awards to the most innovative Galileo applications

On the eve of the launch of the first two Galileo satellites on 20 October 2011 in Kourou, the best business ideas for satellite navigation applications received awards at the 2011 European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC). As the main sponsor of the competition of ideas for innovative and practical GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) applications, TÜV SÜD presented the awards in Munich on 19 October 2011.

The 2011 European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) received over 400 applications submitted from almost 50 countries, thirty of which were selected as award-winners in various categories. "The large number of ideas submitted is proof positive that the Galileo system offers extensive potential for new applications and will make a major contribution to the future paradigm of the 'Internet of Things', said Dr Armin Pfoh, Head of Corporate Innovation Management at TÜV SÜD AG. "The launch of the first two satellites will provide vital impetus for further development."

The launch of these satellites heralds the expansion of operations for the Galileo system. Numerous product ideas and existing applications will become market-ready in the coming years. "This progress will be accompanied by increased demand for certification of products and services", predicts Martin Grzebellus, Managing Director of NavCert GmbH, a joint venture by TÜV SÜD and OECON. NavCert's experts provide support for manufacturers of devices and system providers, supplying validation and certification services and issuing the TÜV SÜD certification mark to products placed on the market.

Special GATE prize for TIME WISE

NavCert and IFEN, a leading GNSS service provider, are sponsors of the Special GATE prize awarded as part of ESNC 2011. The prize was awarded to the TIME WISE project of Dr Antonio Pujante from the company PanamNav. TIME WISE provides real-time control of the character of GNSS signals used as time references, triggering a warning mechanism if signals cannot be validated. TIME WISE thus protects security-critical infrastructures, such as those for telecommunications or energy supply, which rely on GNSS time references to synchronize their networks.

The prize was presented by Martin Grzebellus, Managing Director of NavCert GmbH, and Günter Heinrichs, Head of Business Development, Marketing & Sales at IFEN. The winner gains a trial run of the application in the GATE (Galileo Test and Development Environment) at Berchtesgaden and testing and certification by NavCert. After certification is successfully completed, the winner may use the TÜV SÜD certification mark for one year free of charge. The Special GATE Prize has a total value of around EUR 50,000.

The Galileo European civil satellite system will pave the way for numerous new areas of application for professional and private users that extend far beyond mere positioning – for example, applications in the energy sector (smart grid), the automotive industry, aviation and shipping, and tourism and logistics. TÜV SÜD and the European Satellite Navigation Competition support the development of such market-oriented GNSS-based applications to open up new markets in this future-oriented industry.

To find out more, visit www.navcert.de and http://www.galileo-masters.eu.

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