AiA
Awareness in Africa: Disseminating Knowledge on EGNOS and Galileo in Africa to foster Local Development
Background & Objectives
AiA focuses on the same objectives as the AU- EU Strategic Partnership in the selected 3 countries via specific activities. AiA extends its activities to other Sub-Saharan African countries through other actions (Call for the Best African Student Paper or the international conference in Dakar in 2013). AiA produces market studies, which address all aspects of EGNOS-Africa system development and service provision, in preparation for the infrastructure deployment phase.
Why this project is important for EGNOS/GSA/SatNav?
AiA supports the AU-EU Strategic Partnership with the "Introduction of GNSS/EGNOS capacity building for satellite navigation services in Africa” in three selected countries.
Objectives
The main objectives of AiA are :
- to create a practical link between the EU and Africa regarding the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and its applications;
- to promote and popularise scientific and technological aspects of GNSS with universities and research institutions;
- to find immediate applications for the Global Navigation Satellite System (EGNOS and Galileo) within the context of development in Africa;
- to promote the use of GNSS technology among African SMEs / SMIs and chambers of commerce, researchers;
- to educate African universities and institutions so they can conduct training activities in GNSS technology;
- to establish common interests between the actors in the North and South for the development of a GNSS services market in Sub-Saharan Africa.
How does it work?
AiA is involved in different types of activities: promoting international cooperation between the European Union and countries in sub-Saharan Africa through workshops and conferences; presenting possible applications of GNSS technology, informing local actors (companies, industries, governments, universities, service providers) about the uses of GNSS technologies; producing a study of the market potential for GNSS, encouraging PPP and supporting six students in three countries for 12 months.
Next Steps
- Regional AiA workshop (February 2013) in Cameroon
- Large international workshop in Dakar (May 2013)
- Call for the Best African Student Paper 2013
- Supporting the thesis development of 6 students from Gabon, Cameroon and Senegal via experts and local professors
- Final conference in Luxembourg (2014).
Work performed & results
- Networking and collaboration with the main stakeholders at national, regional and international levels, like ASECNA, Ministries, technology intensive SMEs, technology providers, association of mayors, association of municipalities, universities, research labs, researchers, GNSS experts etc.
- Evaluation of the Best African Student Papers Award with the paper being presented at the large Dakar conference in 2013;
- 1 year scholarship for 6 students to produce their own master's thesis;
- Detailed Market and Feasibility Study on potential applications and development areas in Sub-Saharan Africa;
- Advisory Board activities for the preparation of a final conference and assessment of AiA results;
- Idea Management Process Support using the Living Lab open innovation methodology.
AiA Photo Gallery
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Dakar workshop, November 2012