ICTP Awarded European Commission Contract

ICTP has received a major contract from the European Commission to support a project on air transport sector and satellite service applications in Africa. The project, called "Training and Preliminary Backbone Infrastructure Development" aims at training scientists in Africa in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) implementation, management, and testing.

The funding for the contract will be drawn from the European Development Funds (4.5 million euro). Stefano Scarda, Policy Officer in the European Commission's Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry, announced the EU's contribution agreement with ICTP at the opening of a workshop on Science Applications of GNSS in Developing Countries being held at ICTP from 11-24 April.

Speaking at the workshop, Scarda said that strengthening cooperation on science, space, and infrastructure is at the core of the partnership between Africa and the EU, and satellite navigation is a key component. He pointed out that selecting ICTP for the contribution agreement was natural given the Centre's specific expertise in GNSS-related training, research, and implementation, its strong ties with research in Africa, and its contribution to building EGNOS and Galileo, EU's satellite navigation systems.

Sandro Radicella, head of ICTP's Telecommunications/ICT for Development Laboratory and workshop director said that the EU contribution recognises ICTP's sustained success in strengthening technical competences and research in Africa.