The recent launch of Galileo initial services shows that the EC's new Space Strategy is moving in the right direction, with focus on applications and integration of civil space services combined with terrestrial technologies. An additional support of Galileo, not only in Europe, but also worldwide, is of tremendous importance to provide a viable foundation for the development of GNSS in Europe. South-East Asia is the hot spot for global navigation satellite systems and currently the primary region of global market growth in terms of in-use GNSS devices.
At present, none of the SEA states is running its own GNSS or WAAS systems, but it is the area where largest number of GNSS systems available worldwide can be accessed. Therefore, the region is of primary interest for European companies offering GNSS products and services. With the Navis Centre in Hanoi, the predecessor project of BELS+ was able to place a foothold for GNSS applications from Europe to SEA. Founded in 2009 the Navis Centre can serve as entry point for European companies aiming at entering the South East Asian market with their GNSS products.
BELS+ aimed at preparing the change of business inputs into real outputs. It aimed at further progressing in linking the two regions by implementing a set of coordinated activities in both, Europe and South-East Asia. The project included a mix of coordination actions to strengthen the links between the different actors, as well as support measures to create and propose initiatives and opportunities which increase awareness and generate concrete outputs in a mid to long-term timeframe.
BELS+ exploited the opportunities offered through the Navis Centre by implementing a Galileo Demo Centre in Hanoi building upon the broad engagement of stakeholders during the predecessor project BELS and aimed at attracting further European companies. The Demo Centre served as a platform to demonstrate the expertise of European GNSS companies. BELS+ supported the acquisition of European demo companies, prepared a local infrastructure for placement of EU GNSS devices and enabled the Navis staff to present European EGNSS equipment. This process was supported by promoting the Demo Centre to European Companies, within EU clusters and at conferences. BELS+ also addressed the need of skilled personnel on GNSS topics. It elaborated an action plan on how to coordinate activities now and in the future to counteract this shortage of human power. In addition, the project supported capacity building by providing dedicated GNSS training for professionals in the EU & SEA. This task was motivated by the fact that Europe requires more highly educated human resources in the field of GNSS. In Europe, qualified human resources are very difficult to find. To facilitate this process on the operative level BELS+ built further capacities through job fairs and professional trainings in EU and SEA.
