- March 2, 2023
- Posted by: EARSC
- Categories: EARSC News, EOcafe
Earth Observation for Defence & Security
How EO technologies can contribute to strengthening the EU capabilities & responsiveness in defence & security
Thursday 9th of March 2023
16:00-17:00 CET
Space capacities are an essential component for security and defence-related policy objectives. Whilst the technical capacity in Europe is strong, thanks to collaborative efforts through the European Space Agency (ESA) and more recently the dedicated EU programmes Galileo and Copernicus, the lack of a collective political will has restricted programmes to largely national efforts. As the world becomes more insecure, efforts are increasing to overcome this lacuna.
The European strategic context is crucial as the EU is willing to strengthen the joint EU capabilities and responsiveness in defence and in particular to enhance the defence and security dimension of space activities and industries. Hence, the European Commission (EC) is currently preparing a strategy for strengthening the EU’s security and defence policy by 2030.
In preparation, next year, the EC will launch studies and pilot services to assess the capabilities of the EU industry and define the developments necessary to build an EU capacity. In parallel, ESA has presented to the Member States a proposal for a programme on space security to develop further space capabilities in response to security requirements. The implementation of the programme will take into account new technological developments in the sector, an adequate level of security of the infrastructure and services, the availability of different data sources and the long-term capacity of the private sector to deliver appropriate solutions.
In this context, how can the European Earth Observation services industry contribute to the EU’s defence and security–related objectives?
To respond to this question, EARSC (European Association of Remote Sensing Companies) has created a dedicated Working Group with the objectives to provide an industry view on the matters of defence and security and demonstrate the current capabilities of the sector. Considering that the value-added industry will play an important role (as it will be the one implementing and delivering security and defence EO-based services to the users), the European Commission is interested in identifying the current capabilities and gaps and to shape the implementation and governance of the future EO services and applications for security and defence
In this EOcafe, a leading expert on this subject Xavier Pasco (Director, Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique) will share with our host Geoff Sawyer (EARSC Strategic Advisor and former Secretary General) his expertise on the international and European strategic environment and tell us more about the evolving political landscape as well as the role that space and more specifically Earth observation capabilities can play in the future.
Come and join us to know more about this topic! Specific questions which could be addressed during this EOcafe include the following:
- What is the EU’s ambition for strengthening its security and defence policy by 2030?
- Which are the main institutional stakeholders in the defence and security landscape?
- What is the role of space activities in this strategic environment?
- How can the EO industry contribute?
Registration: The webinar is open to all. Registration is free but compulsory. Please click on the following link to register.
Please note this is a virtual event!
EOcafe is part of a series of EARSC meetings that offer timely, relevant, and practical information on a broad variety of topics related to the EO sector. Join us every two weeks to discuss and network while enjoying a cup of coffee with friends.
IMPORTANT NOTES!!!
- The use of a video camera is not mandatory but is encouraged to facilitate better interaction between the attendees and the guest speaker(s).
- The EOcafe will stay open after 17:00 in case our guests want to continue the discussion.
- By registering for this event, you accept the terms and conditions (https://earsc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/EARSC_Events_GDPR.pdf).
If you have any questions, and/or you want to know more about the EOcafe, and/or you want to share an idea about a future EOcafe, please contact Natassa (natassa.antoniou@earsc.org).
