Skip to content

The MORSE Initiative focuses on the information needs of Arctic coastal users in government, non-governmental, municipal, industrial and scientific organizations.

Particular emphasis is on those needs that can be satisfied, in whole or in part, by Earth Observation (EO) data from satellites. This new initiative is jointly managed by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and European Space Agency (ESA). The MORSE consultation workshop opens a dialogue with users and lays the foundation for a subsequent Request for Proposals and Invitation to Tender early in 2009 by CSA and ESA, respectively. The MORSE initiative is summarized in a Concept Paper (in PDF format). http://www.morsearctic.net/docs/concept_paper.pdf

Source Geodatapolicy

MORSE

British satellite manufacture, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), has signed a 30M€ contract with Astrium GmbH, Germany for the supply of a Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI) for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) EarthCARE mission.

Mr Bruno Le Stradic, Director of Earth Observation and Science, Astrium Satellites and Dr Matt Perkins, SSTL’s CEO signed the contract at SSTL’s Optical Payload Group facility in Sevenoaks, Kent.

The EarthCARE mission aims to improve the understanding of the Earth’s radiation balance and to minimize uncertainties in climate change prediction models by measuring simultaneously the vertical structure and horizontal distribution of cloud and aerosol fields together with outgoing radiation over all climate zones.

The contract demonstrates SSTL’s expertise in providing high quality scientific instruments which complement its world renowned small satellite capability. The SSTL-built MSI will use new technologies developed in Europe to provide information on the horizontal structures of clouds, such as cloud type and cover, and cloud optical and microphysical properties. Operating from an orbit of around 400km, the MSI will image the Earth at 500-metres ground sample distance (GSD) over a swath width of 150km. The instrument will provide spatial context for the single-point measurements made by the radar and LIDAR systems, imaging the Earth in 7 spectral bands: one visible, one near-infrared (IR), two short-wave IR and three thermal IR.

The EarthCARE Mission is part of the Earth Observation Envelope Programme (EOEP) led by ESA, to cover primary research objectives. The EarthCARE Mission will be the third Earth Explorer Core Mission and will be implemented in collaboration with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) who will provide one of the core instruments.

SSTL is supported in the MSI programme by TNO from The Netherlands who are acting as subcontractors to SSTL.

About SSTL
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) develops innovative technologies to change the economics of space, delivering cost effective satellite missions within rapid timescales that provide critical and valuable services to customers across the globe. The Company is a world leader in the design, manufacture and operation of high performance small satellites with experience gained over more than 25 years and 32 satellites launched.

SSTL employs almost 300 staff working on LEO, MEO, GEO and interplanetary missions, turnkey satellite platforms and space-proven satellite subsystems and optical systems. The Company also provides training and development programmes and consultancy services, and performs studies for ESA, NASA and commercial customers related to platform design, mission analysis and planning.

Based in Guildford, UK, SSTL is owned by EADS Astrium NV.

About Astrium
Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems and services. In 2007, Astrium had a turnover of €3.5 billion and 12,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment and its wholly owned subsidiary Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite services.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2007, EADS generated revenues of €39.1 billion and employed a workforce of more than 116,000.

Notes to editor:
Supporting photography for this press release can be downloaded from the online press room. These can be previewed in the printable pdf version of this press release, that can be downloaded from the SSTL online press room :
http://www.ballard.co.uk/sstl/

SSTL Contact:
Audrey Nice, Surrey Satellite Technology Limited
Tel: +44 (0)1483 804200 Email: a.nice@sstl.co.uk

Press Contact:
Robin Wolstenholme, Ballard Communications Management (BCM)
Tel: +44 (0)1306 882288 Email: r.wolstenholme@ballard.co.uk

A study on the competitiveness of the GMES Downstream Sector is available on the Europa website


The final report of the “Study on the Competitiveness of the GMES Downstream Sector” produced within the Framework Contract of Sectoral Competitiveness Studies (funded by the EC DG Enterprise and Industry) is available on the Europa website.

During the study, an analysis has been made of the performance of the European EO downstream sector, in terms of revenues, employment and productivity. Subsequently, the structure of the sector has been analysed. Furthermore, the competitiveness of the sector has been studied, taking into account aspects like production processes, imports and exports, profitability, and market structure.

These issues have been related to a number of regulatory and framework conditions in order to determine the impact of these conditions on the competitiveness of the sector.

Lastly, the EO downstream services sector has been compared with its US equivalent. Based on the analyses, a set of recommendations has been formulated.

The full document as weel as an executive summary can be downloaded from the Europa website.

Source GMES.Info

Key documents on GMES at the European Commission GMES website

Study on the Competitiveness of the GMES Downstream Sector

Other Documents by linking at European Commission GMES website

-COM748 – Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, Council, EESC and CoR: GMES: We care for a safer planet
-SEC2808 – Impact Assessment
-SEC2809 – Summary of the Impact Assessment
-Citizen Summary
-COM 565 Final – Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: GMES: From concept to reality
-COM 65 Final – Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council: Establishing a GMES capacity by 2008 – (Action plan 2004-2008)
-COM 609 Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: Outline GMES EC Action Plan (Initial period: 2001-2003)
-DIRECTIVE 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 March 2007, establishing an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE)
-COM 46 Final – Communication from the Commission: Towards a Shared Environmental Information System

Studies

-Study on the Competitiveness of the GMES Downstream Sector
-Executive Summary

-more reference documents to be found here

SOURCE

Overview on What is GMES ?

GMES will be the European programme implementing an Earth observation service system with satellites, sensors on the ground, floating in the water or flying through the air to monitor our planet’s environment and to support the security of every citizen.

The information provided by GMES will help us understand better how and in what way our planet may be changing, why this is happening, and how this might influence our daily lives. In this way, GMES will improve people’s safety in many ways, such as by providing information on natural disasters such as forest fires or floods, thus helping prevent the loss of lives and large-scale damage to property. GMES also presents a clear potential for commercial applications in many different sectors by providing Earth observation data for free to anybody who might have a use for them. GMES will help us improve the management of our natural resources, monitor the quality of our waters and air, plan our cities and prevent urban sprawl, ease the flow of transportation, optimise our agricultural activities and promote renewable energy. Clearly, GMES has the potential to significantly improve the living conditions of our generation and the generation of our children.

Besides affecting our daily lives, GMES will provide vital information to decision-makers and business operators that rely on strategic information with regard to environmental, for instance, climate change and adaptation, or security issues.

The infrastructure needed to collect the observations used by GMES services is owned and operated either by international, European or national entities with their respective political and financial responsibilities. GMES aims at ensuring seamless data flow for sustainable services through effective coordination of all these capacities.

GMES is an initiative driven by the needs of its users, and the information it provides is freely and openly accessed. Significant impact on the economy is expected through the creation of large downstream value-adding service markets, which will grow and flourish provided that a long-term commitment to the GMES programme is secured.

What is the difference between Galileo and GMES ?

GALILEO and GMES are complementary systems making use of satellite technologies. GALILEO is essentially a satellite navigation system providing a positioning and timing services worldwide. GMES is an ‘Earth observation’ system providing information on the state and evolution of our environment and improving the security of our citizens.

There are other Earth-observation systems. What is the added value of GMES ?

Earth observation services already exist in Europe, but they are dispersed at national or regional level. With the exception of meteorological services, they cannot guarantee the long-term service availability and sustainability of timely and reliable information that GMES will provide. Further, in order to respond to ever growing challenges of global safety and to develop strategic policy options, such as climate change, Europe needs a well-coordinated, fully reliable Earth observation system of its own. GMES is that system.

What is at stake with GMES ?

Initially developed as a scientific project ten years ago, GMES needs to evolve into a fully mature operational service system.

This requires: a sustainable programme including long-term funding commitment; a robust governance structure; and tailor-made legislative and regulatory framework notably designing a data policy that stimulates jobs and growth.

Deciding not to implement a sustainable GMES programme would undoubtedly cause a significant loss of opportunity for Europe, in terms of the money already invested so far, the loss of market opportunities and stimulus for innovation as well as a loss of worldwide influence through a strong knowledge base in such strategic areas as climate change and global stability.

Global Marketing Insights, Inc. has completed the “2008 Africa Survey and Analysis of the Remote Sensing Market, Aerial and Spaceborne-10 Year Trends” and delivered the final report to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life.

The USGS contracted Global Marketing Insights to conduct a research study of the Africa remote sensing market as it relates to aerial and satellite data technologies. Global Marketing Insights created a series of extensive on-line surveys encompassing trends impacting the remote sensing industry as well as application usage, and data needs concerning aerial film, aerial digital, aerial sensors and satellite data. These surveys were completed between January 2008 and January 2009.

“USGS’s primary goal for the survey was to learn more about the remote sensing needs for Africa in order to support and assist the users,” said Dr. Shawana Johnson, President of Global Marketing Insights. “The survey study also provides a comparison to the Western and Asian studies that were previously completed (through NOAA contracts) and it provides insights into where the worldwide remote sensing market is heading – from the viewpoints of both data and service providers and end users.”

Global Marketing Insights established an international network of 13 Alliance Research Partners that hosted the website for the surveys and encouraged in-country clients to participate in the online survey. Ultimately, 377 online surveys were completed, as well as 20 in-depth personal interviews recorded.

Participants in all segments of the geospatial industry will find valuable market insight in the USGS 2008 Africa Remote Sensing Survey report. Some of these trends and insights include:

 There is a positive movement in the use of remote sensing and opportunities for the use of geospatial data to make an even greater societal contribution to Africa’s sustainable development in the near future.

 The private sector is starting to drive the process of developing geospatial data on the continent.

 Respondents believe they have an adequate amount of remote sensing expertise but they need a greater number of accessible geospatial data sets. Data becoming a commodity is the number one trend to impact them.

 Overall, the respondents believe that greater ground resolution is the technical advance that will impact their businesses the most followed by improved GPS units and increased data storage capabilities.

About Global Marketing Insights, Inc.:
Established in 1997, Global Marketing Insights, Inc. provides a wide range of business planning and market research services, including targeted product/service market studies and competitive market research. Global Marketing Insights, Inc. provides strategic planning and market research to government agencies and private sector firms seeking to develop their geospatial business interests. Global Marketing Insights Inc. is a sub contractor to the USDA FAS Office of Global Analysis providing market research and business planning capabilities. Global Marketing Insights, Inc. is the author of the NOAA 2005-2015 International Remote Sensing Study and the NOAA 2006-2016 Asian Remote Sensing Study. Call Sherry Loy 216-525-0600 with questions concerning the 2009 South America Remote Sensing Research Study.

Visit Global Marketing Insights, Inc. in Booth# 713 at the ASPRS Conference, Baltimore, MD March 10-13th to receive a FREE COPY of the most recent US, Canada, Europe, Africa and Asia Remote Sensing Studies.

Sherry Loy (sherryloy@praeis.com)
Phone: 1-216-525-0600
Source

A group of Saudi Arabian and European partners has commenced a project to implement and provide satellite based environmental information products and services to the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

The environmental monitoring covers all four environmental domains: -land -air -coast -marine and follows previous experience gained in the European GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) programme. The providers are Summit Geoservices (KSA) and a European team lead by GAF and consisting of DLR, Germany and Telespazio, Italy.

Throughout the last decades the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has witnessed rapid development in its economy, industry and population. Environmental concerns are growing. To support PME in its national, regional and international duties including the implementation of the Environmental Law, GAF and partners now commence work on using space technology and satellite remote sensing and provide timely and nationwide information on the status and evolution of the environment. The Environmental Law of the Kingdom authorizes the use of satellite remote sensing to conduct the analysis, comparison and verification of environmental pollution sources and deterioration. Remote sensing shall be used as surveillance tool to detect polluters and to substantiate liability claims.

Services include the development and provision of a number of thematic products and services, the implementation of a geo-portal as well as technical consultancy towards a dedicated GIS and remote sensing centre as important component of a future Environmental Information Management System (EIMS).

Nationwide land use/cover mapping and monitoring will provide important baseline information and detect important environmental changes in the last 2 decades. The air quality monitoring and forecasting service to be developed by DLR and will not only allow national and urban pollution to be monitored and forecasted but also the detection and warning of imported air pollution resulting from trans-boundary transports into Saudi-Arabia. Telespazio will demonstrate near real time oil spill monitoring and damage assessment in a pilot area in the Arabian gulf. Detection of pollution and polluters off the coasts of KSA is a prime topic of interest.

GAF and its partners DLR and Telespazio can draw from their extensive experience in successful application of satellite remote sensing, especially with more than 5 years involvement in GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) the initiative of the European Union (EU) and European Space Agency (ESA) on the development and operational use of earth observation based products and services for the environment.

Project activities for the first phase have started and extend into fall 2009. The GAF team consists of the partners GAF as lead, DLR, Germany and Telespazio, Italy. GAF cooperates with SGS in Saudi Arabia in the performance of this project, which aims at developing a long term European – KSA cooperation in the field of nation wide- satellite based environmental monitoring.

About GAF AG Germany
GAF AG, a Telespazio company, is globally active and has an international reputation as a competent provider of project design, management and implementation services in the fields of geo-information, satellite remote sensing and spatial IT consultancy to private and public clients. Within the past 20 years, GAF has been active in more than 100 countries throughout Europe, Africa, South-America and Asia. More on GAF: www.gaf.de

DLR Germany
DLR is the German Aerospace Centre and has responsibility for all of Germany�s space related activities, including satellite launching, data reception and research at the forefront of modern space based technology. DLR offers through its German Remote Sensing Data Centre cutting edge climate and atmospheric products and related services. For more details please refer to the websites: www.dlr.de/caf and http://wdc.dlr.de

Telespazio Italy
Telespazio SpA is a Finmeccanica/Thales (Space Alliance) owned company active in Earth observation, satellite communication and operation. Telespazio has over 1,300 employees and a direct presence in 10 countries. From 2008 Telespazio, through the E-Geos owned company, is the sole supplier worldwide of high definition radar images from the Italian Space Agency�s and Italian built COSMO-SkyMed constellation of four satellites. For more details please refer to the website: www.telespazio.com

SGS: Summit GeoServices Saudi Arabia
Summit GeoServices is a well reputed KSA based company and provider of GIS software services and solutions to the telecom, power, water, gas, transportation, local government and geospatial industry sectors. Services include independent GIS consultancy, system implementation, data conversion, migration and maintenance, application development, business application integration, managed application services, training and support. Additional information can be found here: www.summit-geoservices.com

*PME*Presidency of Meteorology and Environment, Saudi Arabia
PME is the central agency responsible for environmental protection and monitoring in KSA. The Public Environmental Law of KSA assigns the overall responsibility concerning the development of environmental standards, the enforcement of environmental rules and regulations to PME. For more details please refer to www.pme.gov.sa/en

Source GAF

“… eoVox2 initiative is expected to be another breakthrough to improve even further the representation of European Earth Observation Industry in a variety of contexts. In the very near future EARSC will update you on the specific actions it is taking to coordinate the eoVox2 efforts. As we move forward with these plans, we will do in a dialog form, and united by a commitment to working in partnership with industry and stakeholders…”

Dear EOMag readers,

As new interim chairman of EARSC I like to welcome you to the Spring 2009 edition of our earth observation magazine EOmag. In this edition we like to give you insight into the activities of our Association and our members.

As all of you are aware the former chairman of our Association Paul Kamoun has executed this job for many years and with great success. Due to his commitment EARSC is being identified and positioned as “the” European Association of the Earth Observation community in Europe and Canada. I therefore like to thank Paul personally for all the time and efforts spend to make our Association so sucessful.

Although many business sectors are hit by the global recession the same recession is offering opportunities for growth and development of innovative sectors like our sector. For 2009, EARSC will organise a workshop in Brussels to link our sector to the oil and gas as well as to the renewable energy sector. We hope that this workshop will lead to a better understanding by our members of the energy market and that business opportinities will be identified in this challenging and growing market. We will inform you on this activity very soon.

In 2006, ESA undertook a study with EARSC under the banner of eoVox with a view to identifying key actions that were required in order to help foster the growth and development of the EO VA industry in Europe and Canada. Since that activity a boiling synergy has induced an EARSC evolution and restructuring of our industry and of its representation, therefore eoVox2 initiative is expected to be another breakthrough to improve even further the representation of European Earth Observation Industry in a variety of contexts. In the very near future EARSC will update you on the specific actions it is taking to coordinate the eoVox2 efforts. As we move forward with these plans, we will do in a dialog form, and united by a commitment to working in partnership with industry and stakeholders. More information on eoVox will be prepared in a dedicated website.

GMES governance discusions are nowadays on the table of several institutions. The joint EU-ESA innitiative needs to evolve into full operational maturity. This requires a sustainable programme including long-term funding commitment; a suitable governance structure and a specific legislative and regulatory framework. The next milestone to rally stakeholders will be the GMES governance event schedule for May 11 in Brussels. The workshop will be an opportunity for all interested parties to expose possible governance models and to make a first evaluation of their impact on the industry.We thus look forward to welcoming you in Brussels next May simultaneously celebrating our 20-year anniversary.

In the mean time, on behalf of all the EARSC Directors, let me wish you a fruitful spring, looking forward to meet all our members at the Annual General Meeting on June 25th, 2009, in Brussels.

With my best wishes to you all and to our association!

Han Wensink
EARSC interim Chairman

Moscow, Russia – The first to be put in orbit at the end of 2009/early 2010 (WAPA)

The Russian Space Agency plans to launch a series of KANOPUS Earth observation satellites, with the first two due for launch at the end of 2009/early 2010.

KANOPUS-V is being developed for Russia and will record abnormal phenomena to study the possibility of earthquake prediction as well as monitoring agriculture, water and coastal resources. The satellite will carry a Russian-built 2.1m panchromatic imager plus a 10.5m multispectral imager.

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has delivered to the customer, FSUE NPP VNIIEM, the first two suites of equipment for the KANOPUS-type satellite platforms.

The equipment now in Russia has successfully completed two weeks of tests, marking a major milestone for the project and the customer. Work is now underway to integrate the equipment into the first two satellites, under a joint operation with VNIIEM and SSTL engineers.

(Source Avionews)

More info at v1

Spacemart

Belgium, Germany, Greece, France, Italy and Spain agreed here March 5 to work together within the European Defence Agency (EDA) to develop the next generation of European military Earth-observation satellites. The six European Union members have together launched the Multinational Space-based Imaging System (MUSIS) project.

MUSIS aims to establish a system for surveillance, reconnaissance and observation to take over from the current French Helios II, German SAR LUPE and Italian Cosmo-Skymed and Pléiades systems from 2015-17. The EDA’s Capability Development Plan considers space-based imaging capacities to be essential for European Security and Defence Policy.

EDA officials declined to provide more details, including cost.

One of EDA’s roles will be to seek synergies with Earth-observation programs on the civilian side, in particular with the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security program of the European Commission.

“We will liaise with the Commission and the European Space Agency to ensure complementarity of research and technology, and to seek other synergies,” said Alexander Weis, the EDA’s chief executive.

The project is open to other EDA countries wanting to join later, provided that their contribution is acceptable to the existing consortium. The United Kingdom, for example, is not part of the program, but the U.K. Ministry of Defence said that it had not ruled out taking part at a later date.

Source

More info at EDA

GMES Info

Following the survey of the EO Service Industry in Europe and Canada conducted in 2003 to characterise its composition, the EO products and service offerings as well as working practices and financial health over the 2000-2002 period, a new survey has been successfully completed to analyse the private sector service providers’ evolution in 2003-2007.

Final Report on the 2003 – 2007 period

The study, conducted by Vega and supported by representatives of the EO service industry , gathered information from 74 companies from an identified population of 151 companies. Further detailed financial information was gathered for 40 companies.

Highlights

· -Companies remain predominantly small (less than 10 employees) or medium (11 – 60) with only 9% of the companies classed as “large”. However, much of the innovative development is found among the large number of smaller companies.

· -Employee numbers have been growing at a rate of 6.6% annually from 2003 to 2006, with a final total number of employees estimated to be approximately 3000.

· -Revenue levels have shown a growth of just above 7% for the same 2003-2006 period while productivity has remained stable at 105k€ per member of staff, and so total value adding revenue for the industry in 2006 is estimated to be 306 M€ while profitability is typically below 10% and concentrated in a few larger companies.

· -What has changed over the period is a widening range of EO thematic services, where Land use monitoring and Cartographic & Topographic Mapping, Marine and Coastal Surveillance and Agriculture are the primary thematic areas.

· -Similarly, EO products are supplied to a wider range of market sectors and now have strong presence in Environment, Regional planning, Oil, Gas & Mining and Forestry. The largest customer group is public sector operational entities.

· -Another notable change is a shift in primary price drivers away from staff costs and competitive pricing pressures towards recognising costs of data and return on development costs.

· -The anticipated impacts of emerging market forces such as Google Earth have yet to filter through to this sector, although many report a growing awareness as a secondary result of their presence.

The full executive summary (353KB) is available for download
To access the previous 2004 report please follow this link

SOURCE ESA

The launch was applauded by staff at SciSys’ offices in the UK and Germany where they have been responsible for the design and implementation of the mission’s critical operational simulator.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched the most sophisticated mission ever to investigate the Earth’s gravitational field and to map the reference shape of our planet – the geoid – with unprecedented resolution and accuracy.

The launch was applauded by staff at SciSys’ offices in the UK and Germany where they have been responsible for the design and implementation of the mission’s critical operational simulator.

The Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) was placed into a low altitude near sun-synchronous orbit by a Rockot vehicle launched from Russia on Tuesday 17 March. Data collected from the satellite will provide a high-resolution map of the geoid and any gravitational anomalies. This will greatly improve our knowledge and understanding of the Earth’s internal structure and will also be used as a much better reference for ocean and climate studies, including sea-level changes, oceanic circulation and ice cap dynamics.

The simulator – which makes use of ESA’s software simulation kernel called SIMSAT – is a fully representative software model of the satellite and its payload and plays a number of important roles across the lifetime of the GOCE mission. Dick van der Zee, SciSys Project Manager for the simulator commented

“spacecraft control is critical for any mission and so a simulator is used to train the mission control team before launch in how best to handle the satellite. GOCE is particularly challenging since it orbits at an exceptionally low altitude of just 268 km, resulting in very short ground station passes. Our team has supported a number of full-day and back-to-back simulations and I am pleased that our software worked flawlessly”.

The simulator will continue to be used after launch for routine training and to validate contingency operations in the event of anomalies. SciSys will continue to be involved in the maintenance of the simulator to support its use.

The GOCE simulator continues a successful involvement of SciSys in all of ESA’s Earth Explorer Core Missions. SciSys is developing software systems for ADM-Aeolus for atmospheric dynamics (2010), and EarthCARE to investigate the Earth’s radiative balance (2013). Three Earth Explorer Opportunity Missions will also include software developed by SciSys. These are Cryosat 2 to measure ice sheet thickness (2009), SMOS to study soil moisture and ocean salinity (2009) and Swarm to survey the evolution of the magnetic field (2010).

About SciSys
The SciSys Group is a leading developer of ICT services, e-Business and advanced technology solutions which operate in a broad spectrum of market sectors including space, utilities, defence, government, communication, business services, media and broadcast and transport. Within these markets, the SciSys group has been involved in significant developments in key technologies that have changed the way people do their jobs. SciSys’ clients are predominantly blue chip and public sector organizations. Customers include the Environment Agency, MOD, Thames Water, Astrium, the European Space Agency, the Metropolitan Police, the BBC and Deutschewelle. The group has offices in Chippenham, Bristol and Reading in the UK and in Bochum, Darmstadt and Oberpfaffenhofen in Germany.

In the UK the group conducts its business through SciSys UK Ltd, in Germany through the wholly owned subsidiary VCS AG which was acquired by SciSys in September 2007.

Additional information about SciSys is available at: http://www.scisys.co.uk/

For more information, please contact:

Chris Lee, SciSys Ltd. Tel: +44 (0)1179 165165 Email: Chris.Lee@scisys.co.uk