MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Our first market development priority this year is focused on International Financial Institutions and on April 12th, our secretary general visited the World Bank along with a delegation of 25 European service providers led by ESA. The goal was to initiate 12 projects selected under the ESA EOMD programme where service providers are engaged directly in WB projects and for EARSC to show how it could help in developing stronger links in the future. The World Bank welcomed the participation of EARSC and encouraged us with the idea that we can act as a neutral facilitator to help broker future opportunities.
Meanwhile, Eopages is nearing the point where it will go live and an early version was shown to the World Bank. This new brokerage platform will help potential customers find suppliers whilst service providers will be able to promote their products. Watch out for a mail that invites you to enter your own product promotional material. Some entries are already being made. In conjunction with the World Bank visit we gathered 12 examples of products that could be used in development projects and these are all being converted into an eopages form.
Our second priority for 2011 is the oil and gas industry and improving links with the EO service provider Community. The OGEO working group, where EARSC provides the secretariat, is guiding the initiative under the chairmanship of Richard Eyers at Shell. As well as developing stronger links between the two industry sectors (through meetings and workshops) we are putting in place a Community tool and seeking to establish a joint industry project. The OGEO web-portal will be available later this summer.
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
We published a position paper on “Exploiting GMES Operational Services”. This has been widely distributed and well received. It raises three key issues for the future for which we plan to develop more detailed proposals. The first priority is linked to the implementation of a data policy for GMES and a workshop is being planned. Those interested to join the working group on this topic should inform the secretariat and keep June 17th in mind as a possible date on which a workshop could be held in Brussels.
INTERNAL ACTIONS
Quality Scheme: Please also note that we are anticipating with ESA the possibility to hold a workshop in the previous afternoon ie 29th June starting at around 16h00 on the topic of certification and standards. ESA has been carrying out some work on this topic and it is planned to present this to the workshop before seeking reaction and views through an open interaction.
Data licensing: Would members be interested in a workshop organised to discuss aspects of EO data licensing and distribution? It could help legal advisors become familiar with EO data issues and look/share at best practice across the various service providers. This wk could also be an exchange with US companies and legal specialists.
RELATIONSHIP
In April, meetings have been held with Eurogi, Nereus, ERRIN, ESOA and Eurospace. In a wider field, we also met with the US Alliance for Earth Observation and the Centre for Spatial Law (Kevin Pomfret). We are exploring ways to work more closely with all these groups and as an example we are invited to present the Association to the ERRIN transport group when they next meet in May and we are discussing with the CSL to organise a workshop to look at the legal aspects and share best practise across the atlantic on data licensing. For information, Nereus and ERRIN both bring together representatives of European regions; Nereus focused on space users and ERRIN on research and innovation.
EARSC has been invited to be a member of the Joint Advisory Board for two EC sponsored GMES networking projects Graal and Doris. Our Secretary General will participate to the first meeting on June 9th.
FORTHCOMING MEETINGS
AGM: 30th June Brussels
EARSC AGM will take place on 30th June in Brussels. This year EARSC will organize after the AGM, two separate seminars, the morning seminar is dedicated to the “Current status of operational GMES” while the afternoon seminar will be focus on the “EO service markets”. Key stakeholders will be invited to give an overview of these topics. There will also be a buffet reception giving an opportunity for more informal discussions with EARSC Members including the Executive Board. If for any reason you will not be able to attend the Annual General Meeting and want to have your position represented, please do not forget to give the power of representation by the mean of a proxy. EARSC is also opening an invitation to its members to participate by nominating candidates for Directors.
EARSC will be present at the following workshops:
| When | Event | Role | By | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09-11 May 2011 | Global Space and Satellite Forum | EARSC presentation | Vice-Chairman | Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| 12-13 May 2011 | Let’s embrace space – FP7 space conference 2011 | EARSC presentation | Secretary General | Budapest, Hungary |
| 24 May 2011 | ERRIN Transport Group Meeting | EARSC participation | Secretary General | tbc |
| 26-27 May 2011 | FP7 Space and GMES Initial Operations Symposium: opportunities and networking 2011-201 | EARSC presentation | Secretary General | Lisbon, Portugal |
| 30 May-02 June 2011 | 31st EARSeL Symposium: Remote Sensing and Geoinformation not only for Scientific Cooperation | Key note | Secretary General | Prague, Czech Republic |
| 09 June 2011 | DORISNET-GRAAL Joint Advisory Board | EARSC representation | Secretary General | Brussels, Belgium |
| 12-14 June 2011 | International conference, space security through the transatlantic partnership | EARSC participation | Prague, Czech Republic | |
| 29 June 2011 | Seminar EO quality scheme | EARSC members | Members | Brussels, Belgium |
| 30 June 2011 | EARSC AGM | EARSC participation | Members | Brussels, Belgium |
INFORMATION DISTRIBUTED
| Email Ref. data | Issue |
|---|---|
| 20 March 2011 | EC consultation on the preparation of a new Communication on an Industrial Policy for the Security Industry |
| 4 April 2011 | EC Communication “Towards a space strategy for the EU that benefits its citizens” |
| 4 April 2011 | EARSC Position Paper: Exploiting GMES Operational Services |
| 4 April 2011 | Towards a space specific industrial policy / food for thought paper from the European space industry |
| 4 April 2011 | Risk Assessment for Disaster Management |
| 7 April 2011 | Space in the EU / Eurospace newlsetter 1-2011 |
| 7 April 2011 | SWIFT E-News n°16 |
| 8 April 2011 | EC communication on space / ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
| 12 April 2011 | EEAS on a Concept for Air Operations / Contribution of Space |
| 12 April 2011 | EU approach to the ITU WRC12 / issues relevant for space policy |
| 14 April 2011 | EOmag 25 |
| 20 April 2011 | draft wp2012 FP7-Environment / Space related aspects |
EDITORIAL
This note is produced by EARSC; it aims at providing its members with a synthesis of EARSC news and activities. Issues will be monthly or bi-monthly, depending on developments. More information at secretariat@earsc.org