History
2002: R&D drives creation of firm
Christian Carle and Jean Chenebault created Pole Star in Toulouse and began operating out of the Grand Toulouse business incubator at Basso Cambo.
The first R&D programs were launched and at the same time the firm’s founders created a department specialized in the field of satellite navigation applications. The firm’s main customers were the CNES, the French Ministry of Transportation, the Galileo Joint Undertaking, and Alcatel Space (which today is Thales Alenia Space).
2003: A unifying force
Pole star was the founding member and impetus for the CECILE non-profit organization of Small and Middle Sized Firms in the Midi-Pyrénées region.Based in Toulouse, CECILE today groups together 9 SMEs and actively develops strategies and implements actions to make Toulouse a center of excellence in the field of location and positioning applications.
2004: The firm earns recognition for its innovation capacity
Pole Star earned the label, « Jeune Entreprise Innovante » (Young Innovative Company) awarded by the French Ministry of Research.This label testifies to the firm’s innovativeness, ambition and strong development potential.
2005: New expanded premises for Pole Star
To accomodate the growth of the firm, Pole Star moved into new premises and became a founding member of Aerospace Valley, the French Government certified international competitiveness cluster. Under the aegis of this structure, Pole Star became an active member of the strategic field, “ Navigation Positioning and Telecommunications”.
2006: International development takes off
Pole Star launched its international development with the opening of an office in Shanghai, China.
2007: Presentation of Pole Star’s NAO® technology
Pole Star introduced NAO-City® technology integrated into a geolocalized application which allows visitors to Toulouse to have access to multimedia content related to their position wherever they are in the city.
2008: A year of exciting developments
April
At the Toulouse Space Show, Pole Star introduced its NAO-Campus® technology for location inside buildings. It is the first indoor technology which allows location inside buildings and seamless transition to outdoors. NAO-Campus™ is used for professional applications in the area of personnel safety as well as general public applications improving mobility and accessibility. Pole Star moved into new, larger 330 m2 premises.
May
Pole Star increased its capital to finance development and growth. Avenir Finance Gestion became a shareholder along with other smaller individual investors.
September
The application « My T13 » was presented for the first time in Toulouse. Dedicated to promoting Greater Toulouse’s cultural offerings and heritage, My T13 is the first application to use the second version of NAO-City.
Décember
NAO-Campus solution was integrated into mobile terminals and delivered to the fire department in Chongqing, China to improve the safety of firefighters during operations inside high risk buildings.
