The whole world in your hands: how businesses can benefit from satellite data

Published by University of Leicester Press Office for University of Leicester in Central Government and also in Education

University of Leicester scientists are inviting businesses - particularly East Midlands-based small and medium enterprises - to attend an event designed to demonstrate how to get the most out of satellite data.

G-STEP, the University’s innovative project which helps businesses benefit from Earth Observation data, will hold a free event “Satellite Data Apps: Funding and Protecting Your Innovation” on Thursday 18 October 2012.

The event will boost University/Business collaboration in developing apps using location based data from satellite and other Earth Observation sources.

The focus will be on identifying what data is there and is free to use, and will encourage collaboration to innovate new products using data that has been recently developed or will be coming into use over the next couple of years. It will also look at how innovation can be funded and protected.

The event will feature presentations from Robert McEwan, tech giant Hewlett Packard’s Chief Technologist for Enterprise Server, Storage and Networking (ESSN), Catherine Mealing–Jones, Director of Growth, Applications & EU Programmes at the UK Space Agency, Ian Holt, Senior Developer Programme Manager at map makers Ordnance Survey and Tim Just, Head of Space Applications at the UK’s Technology Strategy Board.

There will also be talks from a range of speakers that will give examples of Sat Apps in action to give businesses practical insight into the area as well as exhibition and networking opportunities.

Professor Paul Monks, G-STEP Director, said: “Government and Industry have already recognised that Space is a key growth sector that is bucking the current economic trend. The information and networking opportunities at this event have a proven track record of producing real business opportunities.  Companies, regional and national authorities and academics have found our events to beneficial to their interests.  We have some exciting new examples of space in action to deliver difference to the public and industry.”

The event is free and will be held at the National Space Centre. To book places, visit: http://g-step-bms-2012.eventbrite.co.uk/?ebtv=C

G-STEP is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through EMDA (East Midlands Development Agency), the Leicestershire Economic Partnership (now Prospect Leicestershire) and the University of Leicester.