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Luciad

Luciad
Company typePublic – NV
Industry
Founded1999 (1999) in Holsbeek, Belgium[1]
FounderDr. Lode Missiaen[1]
Headquarters
Leuven
,
Belgium
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • COO: Frank Suykens
  • CIO: Gunther Sablon
Websitewww.hexagongeospatial.com

Luciad is a supplier of geographic information system (GIS) tools. Their products are intended for geospatial situational awareness. The company mainly focuses on the aviation, defence and security markets.[2] Defence customers account for about 70% of the company's business.[3]

Headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, Luciad has offices in the United States, France, Germany, Mexico, and other international locations. It works with organizations such as Eurocontrol, Boeing, Airbus Defence and Space.[4]

History

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Dr. Lode Missiaen along with his colleague, Thierry Salvant, founded Luciad on March 22, 1999, together with management company R2I (acted as business angels). Gemma Frisius Fund (GFF), a seed capital fund established in 1997 as a joint venture between the KU Leuven, KBC and BNP Paribas, provided further seed capital in September 2000.[1]

Beginning in 2008, Luciad technology has been used to support SACT's objectives of improving interoperability between NATO and national C4I systems.[5] Luciad has also been contracted by the NATO C3 Agency to deliver the software components for the visualization capability in its interim Joint Common Operational Picture.[6][7] In 2016, Luciad announced a partnership with Sc2 Corp and IBM to develop social media analytics for US Special Operations Command.[8]

Luciad has participated with Frontex, the European Organisation for Security (EOS) and the Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) on border security and border control.[9]

Luciad is one of several spin-offs of the KU Leuven.[10]

Missiaen served as Group CEO from 1999 to 2012.[11] Investment company Gimv acquired a majority stake in Luciad in 2013.[12][13] In October 2017, Gimv and the other shareholders sold their stake in Luciad to the Swedish-headquartered Hexagon, which rendered Luciad a fully owned Hexagon subsidiary under their Geospatial division.[14][15]

Awards

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Luciad won the 2016 Geospatial World Innovation Award for LuciadRIA, its 3D situational awareness app for browsers.[16]

Luciad User Conference

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Luciad hosts an annual User Conference for geospatial professionals and developers in Europe, with over 200 geospatial professionals from the Aviation, Defense, Maritime, Safety & Security and Utilities & Logistics domains.[17][18] It is hosted in Brussels.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Geografische Informatie Systemen: met Luciad de lucht in" [Geographical Information Systems: with Luciad into the sky]. KU Leuven (in Dutch).
  2. ^ "The European Security & Defense Union".
  3. ^ Vogel, Ben (16 May 2017). "Luciad broadens uses for geospatial visualization". Jane's Airport 360.
  4. ^ "Homepage". Luciad.
  5. ^ "Luciad plays central role at NATO CWID 2008" (Press release). Luciad. 16 September 2008.
  6. ^ Chen, Stephen (November 17, 2018). "China matches Nato in information arms race with deal for 'Ferrari of war room software'". The South China Morning Post.
  7. ^ "NC3A chooses Luciad software to visualize its Joint Common Operational Picture" (Press release). Luciad. 22 April 2008.
  8. ^ "Luciad, Sc2 Corp and IBM announce new social media analytics partnership". ArmyTechnology.com. 19 December 2016.
  9. ^ Ammerman, Mark. "Border Wars: The Arms Dealers Profiting from Europe's Refugee Tragedy" (PDF). Transational Institute.
  10. ^ "Overview spin-off companies". lrd.kuleuven.be. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  11. ^ "Lode Missiaen". Luciad.
  12. ^ "Gimv investeert in software-ontwikkelaar Luciad" [Gimv invests in software developer Luciad]. HLN (in Dutch). 20 June 2013.
  13. ^ "Gimv investeert in groei van Luciad" [Gimv invests in the growth of Luciad]. Engineeringnet.be. 20 June 2013.
  14. ^ "Luciad acquired by Sweden's Hexagon - Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  15. ^ "Hexagon announces to acquire Luciad - Geospatial World". Geospatial World. Retrieved 2017-10-04.
  16. ^ "Luciad Wins 'Geospatial Excellence Award'". GISuser. 31 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Luciad User Conference 2016 starts off in Brussels". Geospacial World. 28 September 2016.
  18. ^ "Luciad Kicks Off Global Seminar Series and Announces 4th Luciad User Conference". Directions Magazine.