Luciad
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{{Infobox company
| name = Luciad
| logo = Luciad.svg
| image = Luciad_office,_Wetenschapspark_Arenberg,_Leuven.png
| image_caption = Luciad's headquarters at the Arenberg Research-Park in Leuven, Belgium
| industry = {{ublist|Aviation| Defense| Security|Software|Geographic Information Systems (GIS)}}
| founded = {{start date|1999}} in Holsbeek, Belgium{{cite web|url=https://nieuws.kuleuven.be/node/3859|title=Geografische Informatie Systemen: met Luciad de lucht in|trans-title=Geographical Information Systems: with Luciad into the sky|work=KU Leuven|language=Dutch}}
| hq_location_city = Leuven
| hq_location_country = Belgium
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{plainlist|
}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.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.{{cite web|url=http://www.magazine-the-european.com/icc/magazine/nav/bb8/binarywriterservlet?imgUid=f3e700c8-d095-8f31-e7eb-bf827b988f2e&uBasVariant=11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111|title=The European Security & Defense Union}} Defence customers account for about 70% of the company's business.{{cite web|url=http://www.ihsairport360.com/article/9131/luciad-broadens-uses-for-geospatial-visualisation|title=Luciad broadens uses for geospatial visualization|work=Jane's Airport 360|first=Ben|last=Vogel|date=16 May 2017}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.luciad.com|title=Homepage|publisher=Luciad}}
History
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.
Beginning in 2008, Luciad technology has been used to support SACT's objectives of improving interoperability between NATO and national C4I systems.{{cite press release|url=http://www.asdnews.com/news-21662/Luciad_plays_central_role_at_NATO_CWID_2008.htm|title=Luciad plays central role at NATO CWID 2008|publisher=Luciad|date=16 September 2008}} 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/2173593/china-matches-nato-information-arms-race-deal-ferrari-war-room |title=China matches Nato in information arms race with deal for 'Ferrari of war room software' |date=November 17, 2018 |newspaper=The South China Morning Post |first=Stephen |last=Chen}}{{cite press release|url=http://www.asdwire.com/press-release-8002/NC3A_chooses_Luciad_software_to_visualize_its_Joint_Common_Operational_Picture_|title=NC3A chooses Luciad software to visualize its Joint Common Operational Picture|publisher=Luciad|date=22 April 2008}} In 2016, Luciad announced a partnership with Sc2 Corp and IBM to develop social media analytics for US Special Operations Command.{{cite web|url=http://www.army-technology.com/news/newsluciad-sc2-corp-and-ibm-announce-new-social-media-analytics-partnership-5700211|title=Luciad, Sc2 Corp and IBM announce new social media analytics partnership|publisher=ArmyTechnology.com|date=19 December 2016}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://biblioteca.clacso.edu.ar/Paises_Bajos/tni/20160719053746/border-wars-report-web-1.pdf|title=Border Wars: The Arms Dealers Profiting from Europe's Refugee Tragedy|first=Mark|last=Ammerman|publisher=Transational Institute}}
Luciad is one of several spin-offs of the KU Leuven.{{Cite web |title=Overview spin-off companies |url=https://lrd.kuleuven.be/en/spinoff/spin-off-companies |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=lrd.kuleuven.be |language=en}}
Missiaen served as Group CEO from 1999 to 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.luciad.com/team/lode-missiaen-director|title=Lode Missiaen|work=Luciad}} Investment company Gimv acquired a majority stake in Luciad in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/942/Economie/article/detail/1655207/2013/06/20/Gimv-investeert-in-software-ontwikkelaar-Luciad.dhtml|title=Gimv investeert in software-ontwikkelaar Luciad|trans-title=Gimv invests in software developer Luciad|work=HLN|date=20 June 2013|language=Dutch}}{{cite web|url=http://www.engineeringnet.be/belgie/detail_belgie.asp?Id=10551|title=Gimv investeert in groei van Luciad|trans-title=Gimv invests in the growth of Luciad|work=Engineeringnet.be|date=20 June 2013}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/article/74615/luciad-acquired-by-sweden-s-hexagon|title=Luciad acquired by Sweden's Hexagon - Jane's 360|website=www.janes.com|access-date=2018-05-16}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.geospatialworld.net/news/hexagon-ab-announced-acquire-belgian-based-luciad/|title=Hexagon announces to acquire Luciad - Geospatial World|work=Geospatial World|access-date=2017-10-04|language=en-US}}
Awards
Luciad won the 2016 Geospatial World Innovation Award for LuciadRIA, its 3D situational awareness app for browsers.{{cite web|url=http://gisuser.com/2016/05/luciad-wins-geospatial-excellence-award/|title=Luciad Wins 'Geospatial Excellence Award'|work=GISuser|date=31 May 2016}}
Luciad User Conference
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.geospatialworld.net/news-posts/luciad-user-conference-2016-starts-off-brussels/|title=Luciad User Conference 2016 starts off in Brussels|work=Geospacial World|date=28 September 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.directionsmag.com/pressreleases/luciad-kicks-off-global-seminar-series-and-announces-4th-luciad-user-c/495343|title=Luciad Kicks Off Global Seminar Series and Announces 4th Luciad User Conference|work=Directions Magazine}} It is hosted in Brussels.