The University of Nottingham and the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) have signed a formal agreement which will see a £9m state-of-the-art facility in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) built in Nottingham.

The GNSS Research and Application Centre of Excellence (GRACE) will capitalise on existing world-leading research and training at the University. GRACE will combine the global-renown of cutting edge research and high calibre teaching in the Institute of Engineering Surveying and Space Geodesy (IESSG) and the Centre for Geospatial Science (CGS) to provide research, training and other support for industry, including Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs.

Terry Moore, Professor of Satellite Navigation and Director of the IESSG said: "Satellite navigation is one of the most important growth technologies of the early 21st Century.  GPS (the basis of the SatNav now familiar in many people's cars) will soon be joined by other systems, including Europe's Galileo, and location and timing services provided by these systems are becoming a fundamental part of all our lives.  This new venture will position the University and the East Midlands at the very front of the developments of this new technology, and it will allow us to expand our activities, and work with industry, in establishing a true Centre of Excellence in the East Midlands."