European GNSS Agency (GSA) launches R&D support for the advancement of European GNSS chipset and receiver technologies.
To enable the adoption of Galileo and EGNOS-powered services across all market segments, the GSA has launched a new R&D funding mechanism supporting the development of chipsets and receivers. This ‘Fundamental Elements’ programme supports activities to be carried out from 2015 – 2020 with a projected budget of EUR 100 million.
The Fundamental Elements programme is part of an overall strategy of market uptake initiatives led by the GSA and in accordance with EU regulation. The main aim of the programme is to facilitate the development of applications across different sectors of the economy and promote the development of fundamental elements relating to EGNOS and Galileo, including Galileo-enabled chipsets and receivers.
“For the first time, EU Regulation provides a financing tool for the market uptake of European GNSS chipsets and receivers,” says GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides. “The GSA will be instrumental in ensuring that the new Fundamental Elements programme contributes to the successful integration of Galileo and EGNOS.”
Fundamental Elements and H2020
Fundamental Elements complements the EU’s Horizon 2020 research programme. While Horizon 2020 aims to foster adoption of Galileo and EGNOS via content and application development, While Fundamental Elements projects will focus on supporting the development of innovative chipset and receiver technologies, Horizon 2020 projects focus on the integration of services provided by Galileo and EGNOS into devices and their commercialisation.
Financing
Fundamental Elements will provide two types of financing: grants and procurement. Grants will be provided with financing currently foreseen for up to 70 % of the total value of the grant agreement. Intellectual property rights will stay with the beneficiary under the condition that the developed product is aimed at commercialisation.
In the case of grants, the GSA publishes two annual Grant Plans, one for EGNOS and another for Galileo. These Plans indicate the envisaged grants to be awarded per year. The Fundamental Elements grants are included in these Plans and can be consulted prior to the publication of the Call for Proposals. The annual Grant Plans include a brief description of the projects and the indicative budget and timings.
Grant Plans can be consulted here.
Procurement will be used only in cases where keeping intellectual property rights allow for the better fulfilment of the programme’s objectives. For example, by licensing it to different potential manufacturers rather than creating a monopolistic situation. For procurement, the projects will be financed 100%. Prior Information Notices, as well as the actual tenders, are available in the GSA website and EU Official Journal.
Information on the call and submission details can be found here.
More details on informational events covering Fundamental Elements will be made available on GSA website.
The GSA manages the Fundamental Elements programme on behalf of the European Commission.
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