Trimble and the China Aerospace Science & Industry Academy of Information Technology (CASIC-IT) have announced plans to form a 50/50 joint venture in China to develop manufacture, and distribute Compass GNSS receivers and systems in China.
Trimble and the China Aerospace Science & Industry Academy of Information Technology (CASIC-IT) have announced plans to form a 50/50 joint venture in China to develop manufacture, and distribute Compass GNSS receivers and systems in China.
The new enterprise will be based in Beijing and focus on equipment to be used for civil applications in commercial positioning, navigation, and timing markets. The JV is expected to begin operations after regulatory approval from the Chinese government.
Established in 2002, CASIC-IT provides products and services to commercial and government sectors in the fields of mini-satellites, satellite communications and navigation, information system integration, information security, and intelligent transportation systems. The enterprise is one of seven academies set up by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC). According to the academy’s website, CASIC-IT serves as an R&D and profit center of CASIC.
Originally known as China Aerospace Machinery & Electronics Corporation (CAMEC), CASIC was formed in July 1999 when the state-owned CASC was broken up into two separate, centrally administered corporations. CASIC has more than 180 member firms and about 100,000 employees in total.
CASIC-IT has undertaken many projects for China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, National Space Administration, and National Development and Reform Commission, including development of satellite navigation receiver chipsets and boards.
China expects to complete a Compass system providing regional availability over China in the 2010 timeframe and worldwide coverage by 2020.
