After years of being limited to online and hybrid meetings, the European Navigation Conference (ENC) took place fully in person again for the first time in spring 2023. It was held at a particularly special location, as ESA has offered to host the conference at ESTEC in Noordwijk. This is where the Galileo satellite system is designed, and where European navigation satellites undergo their final tests before being launched into orbit. It is no coincidence that "Resilient Navigation" is the main theme of the conference. Globally, the determination of position and time using satellites remains vulnerable. There is a need for flexibility and increased accuracy in navigation functions, data, guidance, and control. Therefore, the aim is to create a versatile conference for professionals in the field of positioning, navigation, and timing, including scientists, technicians, policymakers, and users.
345
Participants
Live (with livestream)
Format
3 days
Duration
Noordwijk
Location
By design
The conference was initially planned to take place in Amsterdam, but it has been moved to Noordwijk at ESA's invitation. This brings its own set of challenges, as while ESTEC has many meeting rooms, it is not essentially a conference venue. This requires careful consideration regarding the conference layout, logistics, and routing. There are two buildings, five minutes apart on foot, necessitating close coordination with AV partners and caterers. This is particularly important as the number of participants has significantly increased. At the start of programming and planning, there were 270 interested parties, but ultimately, there were 345 participants.
Outcome
We matched this number in 2024 when we were once again asked to organise the ENC at ESTEC in Noordwijk. Consistency and further professionalisation are key ambitions of the association, which is based in the United Kingdom. Our "by design" approach has been well received. Over two years, we managed to implement improvements in planning, budget control, and the online abstract portal, leading to much smoother registration and review processes. The website also received a new look and feel, perfectly aligning with the conference's image and the conference app, which we use to communicate with all participants. We have developed guidelines and checklists for speakers, workshop facilitators, and poster presentations to create a more coherent and recognisable experience. As a third building will be added in 2024, we set up a pop-up kitchen to give catering a central place and encouraging interactions. Even though the next conference will take place in Poland, we will remain involved in quality control. The fact that the LOC does not have "sleepless nights" when Congress by Design is involved is a great compliment to us.
