11:44pm Monday 10th March 2008
By Mel Fairhurst
A Bingley-based hi-tech research and development centre has forged links with the European Space Agency.
Advanced Digital Institute, in Cottingley Business Park, is putting the Aire Valley on the map after announcing it is working alongside the Agency, along with companies in Spain, France and Portugal, to help improve the performance of satellite navigation systems.
The European Space Agency is working on the Galileo Positioning System, which may become an alternative to the American Global Positioning System.
And the institute - the first of its kind to be set up in the UK - is also offering its expertise in satellite navigation to the Electronics and Telecommunications Res-earch Institute (ETRI) in Korea.
Chief technology officer, John Eagelsham, said: "Everyone knows there is a problem using satellite navigation devices indoors.
"It is an important, commercial problem to solve. Anyone why can solve that problem is going to make a lot of money. It means, for example, in the future parents will be able to keep track of their children, wherever they are. We are not involved in the product, but have global recognised expertise on satellite positioning research. ETRI have asked ADI to help them on a consulting basis."
The centre set up in 2006 with £2.2 million Yorkshire Forward funding and aims to generate 160 new jobs and create 20 new companies over the next five years.
Mr Eagelsham says the firm is on track to deliver these goals locally. "We want to identify new opportunities for the existing companies in the area and help them to realise those opportunities," he said.
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