In 2015 and 2016, the GNSS.asia team has successfully continued the legacy of the first GNSS.asia project. Capitalising on the community of GNSS-related businesses established in GNSS.asia1 GNSS.asia2 has succeeded in facilitating 16 partnerships between Asian and European companies, predominantly between SMEs. The business relationships formed under GNSS.asia’s support, are diverse and encompass R&D collaborative agreements, distribution agreements and sales agreements.
In pursuing its objectives, GNSS.asia has promoted Galileo and the European GNSS industry at over 50 events in India, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Australia, Southeast Asia and Europe to an international audience of stakeholders. GNSS.asia has extended its international community to over 110 businesses from the entire GNSS value chain in Europe and Asia and managed to establish itself as a trusted brand for EU-Asian cooperation. In addition to playing an instrumental role in fostering industrial cooperation, the GNSS.asia events have provided the GSA and the European Commission with a bridgehead to Asian GNSS decision-makers. GNSS.asia actively supported the conclusion of the EU-Korean Science & technology agreement and the EU-Japan cooperation arrangement between the European GNSS Agency and the National Space Policy Secretariat Cabinet Office of Japan.
Project highlights included the participation to DG GROW's Mission for Growth to Taiwan, the co-organisation of the 7th and 8th Multi-GNSS Asia (MGA) Conference and a strong presence at the key industry events in Asia, e.g. the China Satellite Navigation Conference (CSNC), ITS World Congress, Telematics Taiwan, ITS Shenzhen Expo, Telematics India, Korean GNSS Society conference, COMPUTEX and many more. In doing so, the team has successfully raised awareness of EGNSS among stakeholders and acquired a better understanding of the cooperation interests of local GNSS communities. On several occasions, the team has also supported the European GNSS industry during their activities abroad. Furthermore, via outreach through the GNSS.asia newsletter and other web-based communication channels, the project has managed to continuously expand its base of stakeholders, which is also reflected in the increased number of visitors on the project.
In addition to its foreseen actions, the consortium successfully launched the GNSS.asia Challenge, a regional prize within the European Satellite Navigation Competition. The challenge provides the opportunity for participants with GNSS ideas from Asia-Pacific to find European partners, thereby further fostering EU-Asia cooperation. In addition to playing an instrumental role in fostering industrial cooperation and understanding in the target economies, the GNSS.asia events have provided the GSA and the European Commission with an exceptional stage to promote Galileo & EGNOS to an international audience of stakeholders. In 2016, the GNSS.asia Challenge has managed to establish itself as the most successful ESNC region, in terms of participants. A total of 60 entrants from Asia handed in innovative concepts for GNSS applications, aimed at solving problems in the developing and industrialised world.
