EuroGeoNames Consortium
The Consortium partners represent a wide range of organizations combining the benefits of regional distribution with the benefits of public/private partnership:

• The Consortium partners from organisations/institutions of Germany (BKG), the Netherlands (Utrecht University) and Austria (BEV) provide long-term experience with regard to the standardisation of geographical names. They are intensively collaborating within the Dutch- and German-speaking Division (DGSD) of the United Nations Group of Experts on the Standardization of Geographical Names (UNGEGN). The original concept for the project was first discussed and developed in the DGSD.
• The Slovenian NMCA is in this context representing the Slavic-speaking area and thus also serves as a bridge between the orthographic diversity of Europe.
• EuroGeographics – the Association of the European national mapping agencies, with Head Office in Paris (France) and 47 members from 41 European countries – is actively engaged in defining the structure(s) of the reference data for a European Spatial Data Infrastructure (ESDI) and the provision of reference data specifications and guidelines for the ESDI set-up.
• The companies Geodan Holding (The Netherlands), GeoTask AG (Germany) and ESRI Geoinformatik (Germany) are involved in building national and European geo- and metadata portals, GI software and system technology for both, the private and public sectors. Drawing upon experiences elsewhere, these companies will be able to expand the market potential for the (multilingual) EGN infrastructure and will assist in the evolution and expansion of a core SDI component for Europe.
• EDINA, National Data centre based in the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) provides not-for-profit services to the UK higher and further education academic teaching and research communities. It is actively engaged in establishing an SDI for the UK academic sector and provides on-line services delivering a wide range of geospatial data, support and advice, including provision of academic access to the National Mapping Agency’s (Ordnance Survey Great Britain) data holdings.

The manifold inter-related participation of consortium partners in various WPs (see workplan) is shown in the collaboration matrix:

Collaboration matrix of WP and applicants: x = collaboration, X = WP leader

The Reference Group

The following countries have all signed a 'Declaration of Participation' (pattern see downloads) or are members of the EGN Consortium (Slovenia, Austria, Germany), testifying to their cooperation in providing access to their geographical names data sources.

These fifteen countries will form the 'Reference Group'. The Reference Group will play an important role in providing national authoritative geographical names data to the EGN project.

The Reference Group will also play an important role in collecting user requirements.

The Reference Group will consist of NMCAs of the following countries:

• Austria , Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen,
• Cyprus , Department of Lands and Surveys,

• Czech Republic , Czech Office for Surveying, Mapping and Cadastre,
• Finland , National Land Survey of Finland,
• France , Institut Géographique National,
• Germany , Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie,
• Hungary , Institute of Geodesy, Cartography and Remote Sensing,
• Latvia , State Land Service of the Republic of Latvia,
• Lithuania , National Land Service,
• Netherlands , Topografische Dienst Kadaster,
• Norway , Statens kartverk,
• Slovenia , Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia,
• Slovakia , Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre Authority of the Slovak

Republic,

• Spain , Instituto Geográfico Nacional,
• Turkey , National Land Survey.

The EGN Group of Interest

The establishment of the EGN infrastructure and attendant services will, it is anticipated, have a direct influence upon the establishment of an European Spatial Data Infrastructure (ESDI). Consequently, the relevant stakeholders from the (geographic) information (GI) and the wider communication technology sector should play a role in the process of shaping the EGN infrastructure. Examples of such GI stakeholders are: product providers who offer software and related systems; service providers who offer system development for geoportals and GIS; database development operations support, and consulting services or organisations.

Therefore, the EuroGeoNames project will establish a so-called 'EGN Group of Interest'. This group will be comprised of the aforementioned stakeholders and provide a conduit by which their views can be incorporated into the evolution of the EGN infrastructure. In anticipation of a successful project submission, the following GI stakeholders have indicated their willingness to be registered as a member in the EGN Group of Interest by signing a 'Letter of Support' (pattern see downloads):

• OGC Europe (Open Geospatial Consortium - Europe),
• UNGEGN (United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names) and several divisions,
• ICA (International Cartographic Association),
• Eurogi (European umbrella organisation for geographic information),
• DDGI (German umbrella organization for GI),
• GDI-DE (Secretariat of the German spatial data infrastructure),
• Imagi (Interministerial Committee for GI of the German Federation),
• AGISEE (Association for GI in South-East-Europe),
• National Geographic Germany,
• ICOS (International Commission of Onomastics Sciences),
• Westermann (German publishing house for school atlases),
• Ed. Hölzel (Austrian publishing house for school atlases),
• CartoTravel (German publishing house of GI products),
• EEA (European Environment Agency),
• PCGN (United Kingdom Permanent Committee on Geographical Names),
• Greenland Language Secretariat (Oqaasileriffik),
• AdV (Working Commitee of the Surveying Authorities of the States of the Federal Republic of Germany),
• Bookings (Online hotel reservations),
• Deutsche Nationalbibliothek (German National Library),
• Intergraph (Intergraph Germany GmbH),
• StAGN (Permanent Committee on Geographical Names),
• Freytag & Berndt (Austrian publishing house for school atlases),
• Joint Research Center (JRC) - language group,
• Technische Universität Dresden (Institute for Cartography,
• BDVI (Association of Publicly Appointed Surveyors).