The European Space Expo (ESE) has been continuing its highly successful tour of European cities this summer. This spectacular exhibition’s latest landing was in Rome between 30 August and 6 September on the Piazza del Popolo in the heart of the ‘Eternal City’. And the Romans have been flocking to the ESE in record number with over 50 000 visitors entertained and informed during the week.

The International Conference on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) Technologies and Applications for the Development of Sub-Saharan African Countries took place in May 2013. The conference was organized in the frame of the FP7 project: “Disseminating Knowledge on EGNOS and Galileo in Africa”, Awareness in Africa (AiA)1.

The Location Based Applications of tomorrow have been discussed in MetroNum in Bordeaux taking into account the future European GNSS system, Galileo.

The ION GNSS + 2013 conference recently took place in Nashville, Tennessee from 16 to 20 September, gathering more than a thousand participants and where the major stakeholders of the satellite navigation sector ranging from ground, space and receiver manufacturing industrial actors, governmental representatives, research institutes and universities were present.

The deadline for answering the satisfaction survey for EGNOS Open Service Users and Stakeholders has been extended till July 12th.

Today, in the presence of the Vice President Tajani, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) and the European Satellites Services Provider (ESSP SAS) signed a €450 million contract for the provision of EGNOS services until 2021.

The Galileo Public Regulated Service (PRS) offers the opportunity to integrate highly secure Global Satellite Navigation System (GNSS) signals within the mission-critical communication systems of civil authorities throughout Europe and beyond. How this can be achieved and the opportunities this provides for users and manufacturers were outlined at a workshop at the Critical Communications World 2103 conference in Paris.

The workshop enabled the European Commission, the GSA and the stakeholders to exchange their viewpoints and experience about the European GNSS downstream applications sector.

Belgium is making preparations for introducing a Road User Charging (RUC) scheme for heavy vehicles. This scheme could potentially be extended to all vehicles across the country in a few years time. Meanwhile a small case study in the Belgian city of Leuven has shown how a RUC scheme based on satellite technology could help relieve congestion and change driver behaviour.

Since relocating to Prague, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) has worked to engage the business community with the many opportunities offered by the EU’s space programmes. On 27 March the GSA’s HQ hosted a very successful workshop for Czech SMEs and other business organisations and individuals to present the potential of this major growth area.