For all political decision processes information must be collected, nearly 80% of those information are spatial referenced. Very often they are based on different spatial reference systems so that the connection is difficult. Therefore the advantage of such information can not efficiently be used in agreement with the demands for complex decision processes in regional development activities.

The EUPOS initiative, initiator of the EUPOS-IRC project, intends to provide the uniform spatial reference system ETRS89, that is accepted by EC as common geodetic spatial reference system for the whole EU. The EUPOS service as basis infrastructure can be used for all kinds of applications that use satellite services for positioning their information and need higher accuracy than it is possible with absolute GNSS. In all EUPOS countries compatible equipment can be used independent from various manufacturer solutions. Thus, an economical development of applications is possible. This is not usual in whole Europe.

The EUPOS-IRC partners have recognised the benefits EUPOS can have for the regional development. EUPOS-IRC was dedicated to create the respective awareness of regional development bodies mostly in the partner countries. In the frame of the project the co-operation between regional development bodies, regional policy makers and satellite positioning experts has started.

There are a lot of satellite positioning applications with significant relevance for regional development and the establishment and deployment should be better promoted. The vast potential for several sectors such as rural and urban planning, transport, geographic information systems, environmental protection etc. should be revealed and better used. The project has started to promote the transfer of specific know-how and experience and an interregional co-operation for the better use of positioning technologies as tool to improve regional development.