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ESNC 2012 Gets Started with HPI Fleet as New Title Sponsor

April 03, 2012 --For the ninth time, the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) is looking for the world's best ideas for applications in the field of satellite navigation. HPI Fleet - the leading European independent fleet management company - is supporting the ESNC 2012 as the new title sponsor and is looking for innovative ideas that facilitate the mobility of people. This is also the first year in which the European Commission is funding the competition's prize pool and NOKIA Location & Commerce will be providing further support to the competition. Thanks to these additions, the ESNC is getting even more attractive for potential participants.

Aerospace technologies - particularly those involving satellite navigation - already see myriad uses in our everyday lives. Logistics and transportation are just two of the more established fields of application. The ESNC has been unearthing the most innovative ideas for satellite navigation applications every year since 2004 and is setting new trends with its challenges, such as in the fields of "Seamless Mobility", "Connected Vehicles", and "Smart Navigation".

"The ESNC is about great ideas, applications, and business concepts, but even more about putting them into practice. To that end, we work closely with more than 20 high-tech regions and international industry and research partners," explains Thorsten Rudolph, managing director of competition organiser Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen (AZO). "We're happy to welcome HPI Fleet as our new title and special prize sponsor and are particularly pleased to have the support of the European Commission and NOKIA Location & Commerce, whose contributions to this year's competition are set to make the ESNC even more enticing to our partners and participants alike."

The European Commission is now providing the competition's European partner regions and sponsors with financial support that will be passed directly on to the winners in the form of prizes. "The European Satellite Navigation Competition is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Europe's entrepreneurs, SMEs, and industry to promote ideas and bring lucrative business products, based on satnav applications to market," declares Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission. The figures from years past speak for themselves: Between 2004 and 2011, a total of 1,574 ideas were submitted, and 78% of the winning entries have been successfully realised or are currently still in development. One-third of the winners have founded companies as a result of the ESNC. 1

The international competition welcomes a variety of participants, from companies, research institutes, and universities to entrepreneurs and other private individuals. Entrants can choose from more than 20 regions based on which would make the most suitable partner for realising their ideas. In addition to the open-topic regional prizes, the ESNC's research and industry partners offer special and prototyping prizes as a means of soliciting ideas and solutions for specific fields of application. Overall, a total of around EUR 1 million - including foundation support and patent/marketing consulting in addition to cash prizes - is waiting to be won in this year's competition.

The following industry and research sponsors will be awarding special and prototyping prizes in 2012:

At www.galileo-masters.eu, participants and other interested parties can access all of the information on this year's prizes and partners, the terms of participation, and a direct link to register for the database. Entrants will be able to submit and optimise their ideas whenever they wish between 1 April and 30 June 2012. The winners will then be recognised at the Awards Ceremony to be held at the Allerheiligen-Hofkirche in line with an official State Reception in the prestigious Munich Residenz on 25 October 2012.

About the title sponsor HPI Fleet & Mobility
HPI Fleet & Mobility is Europe's leading independent fleet management company. In 16 countries, it offers a unique service portfolio that covers the entire value chain, from vehicle procurement to remarketing. Along the way, it manages all fleet-related activities for its clients and processes their financial transactions. As a result, they benefit from single consolidated reports and invoices that meet their accounting standards.
HPI Fleet's business strategy is driven by its aim to convert modern fleet management into a holistic mobility management approach. It is centred around the individual's need for seamless and sustainable mobility. For more information, please visit: www.hpifleet.com

About the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC)
The ESNC is an international ideas competition that recognises the best ideas in the field of satellite navigation every year. From companies and research institutes to students and other independent individuals, anyone is free to enter. The only thing that matters is your idea! You will be able to submit your innovations at www.galileo-masters.eu from 1 April to 30 June.

The ESNC was inaugurated in three regions in 2004 under the patronage of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs. Since then, the competition has transformed into a network that embodies innovation and expertise. The new partner regions in this year's competition are Austria, Finland, Ireland, Poland, and Portugal, bringing the total to more than 20 regions now competing for the distinction of having produced the overall winner - the Galileo Master. For more information, please visit www.galileo-masters.eu.

Press Contact:
Anwendungszentrum GmbH
Lena Klemm
Friedrichshafener Str. 1
82205 Gilching
Germany
+49(0)8105-7727717
klemm@anwendungszentrum.de