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Netcetera develops multi-site Web Platform for European Space Agency

The first Swiss Software Company to act as Prime Contractor for an ESA Project

  • Media Release
  • Zürich, 31.03.2009

Swiss IT service provider Netcetera has been commissioned by the European Space Agency (ESA) to be the prime contractor for the development of the multi-site web platform "Earth Observation Data and Information Services" (EO DISP). The contract was awarded to Netcetera following a European call for tenders. Netcetera is the first Swiss software company to be appointed prime contractor by the European Space Agency. The project will be implemented from 2009 to 2011.

Switzerland from above

Netcetera is a long-term partner and supplier of the European Space Agency. Alongside other ESA projects, Netcetera has been running the "Earth Observation Principal Investigator" (EOPI) web portal for eight years. The EOPI portal is used to manage and track research project applications. As a result of this successful cooperation, in 2007 ESA entrusted Netcetera with the strategic study "Earth Observation User Services Vision 2010 – 2015". One of Netcetera's recommendations was to create a one-stop portal which will give access to all the different ESA web portals. A single platform will enable a flexible and efficient presentation of information with a high degree of coordination between sub-applications (e.g. management of project applications, events and news or searching the data catalogue). The ESA put the "Earth Observation Data and Information Services" project out to public tender. Netcetera was successful in the face of European competition and was awarded the order as prime contractor. For the first time a Swiss software company is acting as prime contractor for ESA.

Five into one and a three-year contract

Netcetera will operate, host and maintain the five individual ESA portals Earthnet Online, EOPI, GMES Space Component Data Access, International Charter "Space and Major Disasters" and GeoPortal, until the multi-site web platform has been implemented. The contract with ESA runs from 2009 to 2011 and Serco from Belgium is acting as Netcetera's subcontractor. EO DISP will be delivered by the end of 2009 and will then be developed further. It will be operated and maintained in Netcetera’s data centre until 2011.

Andrej Vckovski, CEO of the Netcetera Group, is proud that Netcetera is the first Swiss software company to be appointed as prime contractor by ESA. "We have been working for the European Space Agency for more than eight years and have been able to demonstrate our competence. The fact that we have been selected as prime contractor following an international public call for tenders is incredibly satisfying."