Coordinating European Observation Networks to reinforce the knowledge base for climate, natural resources and raw materials

Topic description

Scope:

Specific Challenge: The specific challenge is to strengthen the Earth Observation networks (space-based, airborne, and particularly in-situ) of the broad European and North African, Middle East, and Balkan region to reinforce its contribution to the knowledge base for climate, natural resources, and raw materials.

The EU's contribution to the monitoring of our planet by land, sea, air and space-based Earth Observation systems remains too fragmented. In addition, geopolitical and economic events in recent years in the EU's southern and south-eastern neighbourhood regions have had adverse effects on infrastructures and services as well as on its already quite modest Earth Observation capacities. An improvement is therefore urgently needed to enable effective, sustainable planning and management of measures to cope with regional and global challenges such as food security, climate change and access to raw materials and energy.

Scope: Proposals should focus on Earth Observation related research activities with the aim of continuously providing timely and accurate information, forecasts and projections. In line with the EU’s strategy for international cooperation in research and innovation[1] proposals should contribute to implementing the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) and Copernicus.

Proposals shall address the following issue:

Coordinating European Observation Networks to reinforce the knowledge base for climate, natural resources and raw materials[2]: bringing together Earth Observation-related research and innovation networks and activities (space-based, airborne and particularly in-situ) within the EU to provide coherent, continuous, timely and accurate information, forecasts and projections in support of GEOSS and Copernicus. It should also identify critical gaps in, inter alia, observation specifications and parameters, geographical areas, and observation and information accessibility, and then establish practical methods and set priorities for addressing these gaps.

Expected impact:

Improved assessment and prediction of future changes through continuous provision of timely and accurate information, forecasts and projections. Coherent European monitoring and observation of the Earth Systems. Improved planning for future Earth Observation and information systems. Upgraded and expanded Earth observations capacity by harnessing national and regional investments in scientific and technological advances and innovative approaches. Preparation of further integration of research and innovation programmes in the domain of Earth Observation in the EU.

Type of action: Coordination and support actions

[1]     COM(2012)497

[2]     This activity directly aimed at supporting the development and implementation of evidence base for R&I policies and supporting various groups of stakeholders is excluded from the delegation to EASME and will be implemented by the Commission services.