Catapult launches UK leg of 2015 European Space Navigation Competition
Marketing
The Satellite Applications Catapult today launches the 2015 UK leg of Europe’s leading space business competition, the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC).
Designed to help identify new innovative applications in the use of satellite navigation, positioning and timing technology (i.e. GNSS), the competition is looking to support individuals or companies to rapidly accelerate their idea into a commercial success. The winner will receive a cash prize and extensive business support worth œ10,000, and the UK winner will be entered in to the ESNC Grand Prize with the chance to win an additional £14,500 ($20,000).
Whether it’s an idea for an app, software platform or a new piece of technology, the ESNC can connect you to a world-class network and provide expert business mentoring to help you refine your business model and maximise investor appeal.
For the second year running, the Catapult is managing the UK leg of the European competition, hoping to build upon the success of previous years. UK entrants have achieved considerable success in the competition, winning the overall prize twice in the past 11 years and consistently placing in the top five.
Stuart Martin, CEO of the Satellite Applications Catapult, said: “2014 saw a record number of entries generated by the UK, and this is something the Catapult is very keen to build upon, given our commitment to helping entrepreneurs and innovators strengthen and benefit from the UK’s space and satellite industries. The winning UK entry in 2014 – Intelligent Precision Farming’s ‘seeCrop’ app – proved yet again the outstanding level of innovation and creativity within the UK.
“Anyone considering entering ESNC 2015 only needs to look at the success achieved by 2012 winner iGeolise which generated £1m of revenue a year after winning the competition, and 2013 ESNC Special Topic Prize Winner, DW International Ltd, which was awarded a European Commission project worth £732,739 for GNSS Monitoring for Critical Applications. I’d therefore encourage any entrepreneurs or businesses with an idea to enter the competition.”
To find out more about the competition, learn from previous winners and receive feedback in confidence on your idea, the Catapult will be hosting a series of workshops around the UK over the coming months. Details on these workshops can be found on the UK ESNC website.
To speak to someone directly about your idea or queries, please contact Doug Watson at doug.watson@sa.catapult.org.uk
The ESNC competition is sponsored by the Satellite Applications Catapult, Innovate UK, UK Space Agency, University of Nottingham, Airbus Defence & Space, CGI, Marks & Clerk and the European Space Agency’s Business Incubator Centre Harwell (ESA BIC).
The competition closes on 30 June 2015.
