The Executive Director of the Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU) Mr. Rainer Grohe and the Director of the Israeli MATIMOP Mr. Yair Amitay, signed the Agreement in Jerusalem, whereby MATIMOP becomes a member of the GJU. The signing ceremony was hosted by the Israeli Vice- Prime Minister, Mr. Ehud Olmert. Rainer Grohe: “I am very pleased that MATIMOP is now a member of the Galileo Joint Undertaking. Israel has performed great achievements in space technology. I am certain that the participation of Israeli entities will contribute signifi cantly to the overall success of the Galileo Programme. Israeli and European industries will mutually benefi t from their experiences.” MATIMOP is a non profi t organisation, under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor, which promotes technological and R&D cooperation and technology transfer activities between Israeli and foreign industries.

The GJU was set up in 2002 by the European Union (EU) and the European Space Agency (ESA) to manage the development phase of Galileo - the European global satellite navigation programme. MATIMOP has committed to contribute EUR 18 million to the GJU, for activities in the development phase of the Galileo Program. The Israeli side will participate to the development phase with their own technical contribution.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/energy_transport/galileo

A Chinese state-controlled company announced that it will bid for the operation franchise of the Galileo Project in China.

Meng Bo, chair of the board of China Galileo Industries (CGI) Ltd., said, “We’re trying to get the operation franchise in China,which might begin in 2008.”

CGI, a joint venture owned by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, China Satcom and China Academy of Space Technology, was designated by the European Union (EU) as the Chinese partner on the Galileo Project.

The operation franchise plan helps ensure profi ts made from the money- moneyconsuming Galileo Project, costing consuming 3.5 billion euros in research and satellite network deployment.

October 2005