The members of this new community will be the representatives of Copernicus on the ground and will be promoting the benefits of the EU’s Earth Observation Programme. They will be the voice, but also the eyes and the ears, of the Commission at local and regional level to ensure that user needs are integrated into the Programme and to maximise its use at local and operational level.
The Copernicus Relays will act as local champions, coordinating and promoting activities around the Copernicus Programme, its benefits, and opportunities for local residents and businesses.
Members of this new Network will play a key role in widening the community of Copernicus users, developing new applications and maximising the benefits from Copernicus data and information.
The network is part of a wider toolkit of initiatives designed to provide information about the programme and address any concerns from citizens about accessing data and information from Copernicus. In addition, these localised one-stop shops will spread the word about opportunities set up by the Commission to support the development of innovative applications and new business models.
The Relays constitute the first milestone of the recently adopted Space Strategy for Europe.
The Relays will be in place in the first quarter of 2017. Consult the list of Copernicus Relays (as of November 2016) and get to know more about Members of the Copernicus Family.