A DUBLIN START-UP has been named as the Irish winner at the European Space Agency’s satnav technology awards, at the prestigious ‘Galileo Masters’ competition in Munich.
The technology under development by Vicinity Systems increases the driving range of electric vehicles by integrating in-car SatNav, which analyses all potential routes to a destination and calculates the most power efficient – in consideration of mountains, traffic and other obstacles which consume battery power.
In addition to winning the regional prize, Vicinity Systems was also shortlisted for the ‘ESA Special Prize for Innovation’, and was runner up for the global technology award.
The Galileo Masters, also known as the ‘European Satellite Navigation Competition’ (ESNC), is an international technology innovation competition that recognises the best ideas in the field of satellite navigation. It seeks to gather outstanding solutions for commercial applications of satellite navigation and promote individual ideas by offering award. There were over 400 entrants from around the globe this year.
Receiving the award, Vicinity Systems founder and chief technologist Con Costello said: “This is a great validation of our technology. Electrics cars are the future; the US alone is spending $2.4 billion in the development of electric vehicle technologies. It’s important that Irish companies get in early and secure intellectual property.”
Since the inaugural awards in 2004, the competition has transformed into an international network that embodies innovation and expertise with the support of leading stakeholders in the field, such as the European GNSS Agency (GSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR). The competition has been supported by the European Commission since 2011.
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