During the European Space Solutions 2016 conference, taking place in Hague, UKRAINE (UKraine Replication, Awareness and INnovation based on EGNOS) project has been presented. The initiative is a part of the Horizon 2020 programme. The project has begun back in 2015, in order to use the opportunity created as a result of the cooperation agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, within the domain of satellite navigation systems. This made it possible to reinforce the European solutions status, within the territory of Ukraine. 

One of the first visible elements of this large project which involves both the European companies (VVA, TeleConsult Austria, Ovinto, Pildo Labs), as well as the Ukrainian partners, including the Ukrainian State Space Agency, National Aviation University and National Ukrainian University of Technology in Kiev, may be seen in incorporation of the Ukrainian airfields in the satellite based EGNOS assisted landing system (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service). Within the framework of the “Ukraine” programme, it is planned that the system is going to include the Ukrainian airfields, increasing the landing precision and safety. According to the representatives of VVA Brussels, interviewed by Space24, Kiev-Zhulhany is going to be the first Ukrainian airport which would receive such system. We are still missing a detailed schedule for implementation of such solution, while the project is facing bureaucratic and political barriers which are a result of the fact that Ukraine is not a member of the European Union. 

The second element of the UKRAINE programme is to involve Ukraine in the initiatives related to the applications based on the European satellite navigation systems, which could possibly be implemented in the areas such as transportation, logistics or shipment of hazardous substances. At the same time, implementation of joint commercial projects by the Ukrainian and European entities would tighten the collaboration between Kiev and the European space market. Other advantages of the project include stimulation of the domestic innovative economy, through creation of international business initiatives using the satellite navigation systems. These projects are to be realized by the Ukrainian start-ups or research institutes independently, as well as in collaboration with the European Union. 

Full evaluation of the UKRAINE project is going to be finalized this year, during a conference in Brussels. At that conference, the results achieved in the legal and technological fields are going to be presented, along with the advancements in the domain of innovative applications.