As EGNOS coverage extends south and east, new markets for GNSS technologies developed in Europe are opening up. The European Commission has funded a comprehensive survey that not only identifies the main market potential for EGNOS applications in these territories, but also the EU technologies that could satisfy demand.
EGNOS already covers almost the whole of the European Union, the Balkans and some of North Africa. Over the next couple of years this coverage will extend further east and south to cover Turkey and countries in the Middle East, some countries of the Former Soviet Union and more of Northern Africa.
“This will bring the benefits of EGNOS to many more markets,” says Ugo Celestino of European Commission DG Enterprise and Industry. “And it is important that European GNSS industry is ready to profit from the opportunities that this will offer.”
Market survey
To assist this process, the European Commission initiated a market survey of the needs and priorities of the individual countries in these new EGNOS-capable territories. The survey focused specifically on regulated transport markets (aviation, rail, road and maritime) and regulated non-transport sectors (emergency management, GIS and mapping applications, health, scientific applications and other such as environment and engineering).
The portfolio of available EU technologies, products and services in these nine sectors is emerging or already developed under the various GNSS projects funded by the European Commission under FP6 and FP7. This selection was further analysed for suitability and market readiness. The work was undertaken by consultancy companies, FDC and Alpha Consult, which provide support to the Commission on international activities of the European Union’s GNSS programmes.
“These two separate tasks were then brought together to identify where the concrete opportunities exist,” says Ugo Celestino.
Local knowledge
The in-country market research was undertaken through desk research on national initiatives and a programme of questionnaires and personal interviews with selected prominent players with intimate knowledge of the national GNSS market.
In total 17 countries were assessed and a clear level of interest in EGNOS capabilities was demonstrated that indicates interesting opportunities for EU companies.
The use of EGNOS-related technologies is seen as a potential boost for efficiency in these neighbouring countries and there is an interest in EU-developed application in a few market domains. There are wide differences in the maturity of the use GNSS technologies across the various countries surveyed, however the transport markets (in particular aviation) and GIS mapping are the most developed and are considered top priority. Emergency management and scientific applications also have good potential and there are prospective niche markets in the maritime and road sectors as well.
In terms of market-readiness, five countries were assessed as first priority: Croatia, Egypt, Israel, Turkey and Ukraine. Market analyses for all 17 countries outlined priority domains and any required specific actions and supporting programmes.
Technology push
In assessing the potential for exportable EGNOS applications and products, the consultants assessed some 140 FP6 and FP7 projects that had reached their objectives and produced tangible results. These were filtered for suitability and the availability of market-relevant EGNOS technologies.
The final result was the identification of 12 projects that can offer clear benefits in the priority market sectors and with products or services already on the market.
“The market opportunities are clear and have been matched to available, developed EU technologies,” concludes Ugo Celestino. “It is now up to industry partners to pursue these opportunities.”
The study also indicated further supporting actions for the Commission in terms of communication and awareness raising actions of the EGNOS’s benefits in the target countries. These should include further demonstration activities, especially for aviation applications, and development of new projects and applications that take into consideration the needs of the market in Europe’s close neighbours.
Full details of the outcomes of the project ‘Support to the definition of an EU industrial policy in GNSS’, including individual country analysis, is available via the link below.
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More information:
Support to the definition of an EU industrial policy in GNSS presentation