The European Commission awards a €1.8M grant to Eureka Navigation Solutions and SAT4M2M to fund space IoT connectivity project.
Eureka Navigation Solutions and SAT4M2M announce that they have been awarded by the European Commission a €1.8M grant in the ultra-competitive Horizon 2020 SME instrument programme to focus on space IoT connectivity.
Over 1200 applications were submitted to this funding round but only 65 projects were selected by the European Commission. Funding will support implementation of the IoTEE (Internet of Things Everywhere on Earth) project over the next two years.
Current IoT connectivity technology is too localised (4G, 5G, LPWAN), expensive (MSS) or not suitable for small autonomous devices. Therefore, IoTEE aims to combine LPWAN’s low power with global coverage of satellite communications and telematic device autonomy.
A bright future for IoT Data Connectivity
The winning proposal was developed by Zaz Ventures, a specialized consultancy focusing on Horizon 2020 grant proposal writing. Xavier Aubry, managing partner of Zaz Ventures, commented: “We are thrilled for Sat4M2M and Eureka Navigation Solutions as they join the Champion League of European SMEs. Their technology takes a unique approach to providing IoT services from space. In addition, they offer cost effective M2M communication in areas that are not covered by terrestrial IoT networks.”
Martin Haunschild, CEO SAT4M2M adds: “The no win – no fee approach of Zaz Ventures gave us a lot of confidence in their process. Especially considering the fact that only 5% of the applications get funded on average. When they chose to work with us, we knew had a very strong case. Zaz Ventures developed an outstanding application, which was reflected in the very high evaluation score. It was a very thorough process that took over 6 months and indeed helped refine our business plan.”
The implementation of the IoTEE project leverages unique European space assets, including the antenna and GTS hardware on-board the International Space Station. Furthermore, an exclusive ITU frequency license is owned by SAT4M2M, addressing the multi-billion Space IoT market opportunity. The project also benefits from a strategic partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA).
Curious? Find out more about SAT4M2M’s space IoT connectivity applications for your industry.