European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC): EUR 1 Million in Prizes Beckons Innovators Using Satellite Navigation Systems

The ESNC is once again inviting entrepreneurs from research and industry to present value-added business applications for the emerging satellite navigation market. The current market for satellite services – such as for mobility, health, or safety – is already worth more than EUR 100 billion, and is expected to rise to EUR 240 billion by 2020. The ESNC supports participating innovators in realising their applications and business cases through an extensive partner network that covers the technical, economical, and legal aspects involved.

“With one-third of the previous winners having founded a company and around 80% of the presented applications having been implemented, the competition has shown its ability to spur innovation and support the creation of new businesses in the emerging satellite navigation market,” confirms Thorsten Rudolph, managing director of competition organiser Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen (AZO).

“In recent years, the ESNC has proven very successful in creating added value for satellite navigation technology both in Bavaria and on a global scale. I have gladly taken on the role of patron once again in 2013, the 10th year of the competition,” states Bavarian State Minister Martin Zeil.

In this edition of the competition, participants can choose between more than 20 partner regions worldwide. Each partner will award a prize designed to support its regional winner’s business case. In 2013, the ESNC is welcoming Flanders/Belgium, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia/Germany, and Norway as new partner regions.

 This year’s ESNC prize pool is worth around EUR 1 million – including cash prizes, business incubation, coaching, patent consulting, prototyping and marketing support, access to customers and user communities, and publicity.

Under the motto “Take the Next Step with Your Business Case”, individuals and teams of entrepreneurs from industry, research, and universities can benefit from cooperating with partner regions worldwide and a number of key stakeholders – including the European Patent Office, a new partner in 2013.

The submission phase for this year’s ESNC is from 1 April to 30 June 2013. At www.galileo-masters.eu, participants and other interested parties can access all of the information on this year’s prizes and partners, the terms of participation, and a direct link to sign in to the database. The winners will then be recognised at a festive awards ceremony to be held in Munich, Germany, on 5 November 2013.

For further information, please click here.