ANNUAL REPORT ‘12
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION
81
9_RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVA-
TION
The projection of ANA, S.A.’s image nationally and
internationally as a key airport operator was not only
due to the technical solutions developed and
implemented but also because it created conditions
to provide national airports with innovative and
low-cost operating solutions that were interoperative
and integrated into the systems of the other airport
stakeholders.
Despite the current budget restrictions, ANA, S.A.
continues to make efforts to actively contribute to
the acquisition and retention of knowledge relevant to
efficiency and operational safety, security, environment
and multimodality. This has been very important in the
definition of ANA, S.A.’s technological strategy and the
specification of new technological systems in line with
European recommendations.
ANA, S.A. has therefore been regularly and successfully
forming European consortia for R&D projects. The
quality, effort and importance of that participation
has resulted in the company being frequently asked
to join new partnerships; write articles for key publica-
tions; make presentations to various bodies at major
events and at key European strategic initiatives; and to
collaborate in the development of solutions for various
entities, including the ESA – European Space Agency.
Active participation in European R&D Projects and
in the corresponding knowledge-sharing networks –
particularly in areas of positioning technologies,
wireless communication, satellite communication,
geographic systems to support decision making,
interoperability and data merging – has been advan-
tageous in the acquisition of important know-how,
the specific qualification of technical staff and the
promotion of the ANA, S.A. image.
ANA, S.A. belongs to various key consortia, including:
• A German consortium, led by the government
Innovation Agency in Berlin, for projects that
seek to improve efficiency, security and envi-
ronmental conditions at airports, according to
the SESAR programme;
• A German consortium, led by the Fraunhofer IIS
Institute, for technology projects related to
large-scale platforms and high safety require-
ments, such as those that apply to airports;
• A consortium led by THALES Portugal, for tech-
nology projects of interest related to marketing,
commercial areas and security.
Besides these, ANA, S.A. participates in national net-
works such as COTEC and ITS/Transport Ecosystems,
which help promote innovation, the integration of
consortia in R&D projects, the sharing of resources and
the collection, dissemination and promotion of results
for the airport sector.
Internationally, ANA, S.A. has been selected by ACI
Europe to be part of the “second group” of small and
medium-size airports that will develop a set of
activities contracted by SESARJU under the SESAR
Programme. This also involves the implementation and
validation of technology solutions developed over the
next few years. Through this work, ANA, S.A. has
privileged access to “state of the art” technology, which
means that the strategic decisions of the company,
especially in operations and technology, will be in line
with the projected applications for the airport sector
in the short and mid-term.
Equally important is the fact that scientific and institu-
tional articles co-authored by ANA, S.A. staff members
were published in 2012. Examples include: "A spatio-
temporal surveillance approach for business activity
