Galileo’s Soyuz VS11 liftoff, Copyright: ESA/CNES/ARIANESPACE-Service Optique CSG, S. Martin

The European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) is looking for services, products, and business innovations that use satellite navigation in everyday life. Having started in 2004 with three partner regions, the ESNC has since grown into a leading global network of innovation and expertise in the field of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).

This year prizes will be awarded by some of the most relevant institutional GNSS stakeholders. In addition, more than 20 partner regions from all over the world will host regional challenges. The prize pool of the ESNC 2015 has a value of about one million Euros. Prizes include cash awards, business incubation, business coaching, patent consulting, technical support, access to testing facilities, prototype development, publicity and marketing support.

Delivering the keynote speech for the competition’s launch, Maureen Kinsler, partner and European Patent attorney at Marks and Clerk commented: “The space sector is seeing an influx of new companies coming up with innovative applications for satellite technology, benefiting many different kinds of industries. Many of the companies we work with have benefitted from the support given by public organisations and the initiatives they run, like the European Satellite Navigation Competition. With this support, they are much better equipped to turn good ideas into successful businesses.”

The competition is organised by Germany’s Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen, who are also running the 2015 Copernicus Master Competition for Earth Observation.

For further information visit the European Satellite Navigation Competition website.