16th of October 2025, 16.00-17.00 CEST
Next Thursday’s EOcafe will mark our 100th EOcafe! Having started in the early days of the pandemic as a way for the Earth Observation community to stay in touch, it has continued for over 5 years, featuring over 160 speakers.
On this occasion, we are very pleased to welcome back one of our very first guests, Mr Mauro Facchini (Head of Unit Earth Observation, DG DEFIS (D.3), European Commission), who will join our host Geoff Sawyer (EARSC Strategic Advisor and former Secretary General) to discuss all things Copernicus-related. Together they will reflect on the key milestones and achievements of the last 5 years, what has changed and evolved across the programme, including the involvement of the EO downstream industry, and what we can expect in the coming years.
Since its inception in 1998, the European Union’s Earth Observation programme has evolved to become the world’s most advanced Earth Observation system. Some of the milestones reached in 2025 alone include: the launch of up to three new Sentinel satellites (Sentinel-4A, Sentinel-5A and the upcoming Sentinel-1D), over 19 new Copernicus Contributing Mission agreements signed, the 10-year anniversary of several Copernicus Services and many more.
In the last five years, since our first EOcafe, we have seen the announcement of six Copernicus Expansion Missions, which will complement the existing and planned Sentinel satellites, expanding the programme’s EO capabilities. Evolutions in AI, ML and cloud technologies have also revolutionised the way users access and process data, as well as the types of services that can be produced using Copernicus/EO data, increasing the reach and benefits of EO, that are now widely recognised by policymakers.
In parallel, the geopolitical context has significantly changed, bringing to the forefront questions of strategic autonomy, competitiveness, security and defence (including dual-use technologies). The European Commission has also moved forward on two important files that could impact the EO sector and Copernicus programme: the EU Space Act and the Vision for the European Space Economy.
Over the coming years, the European Union will negotiate its budget (Multi-Annual Financial Framework) for the 2028-2034 period, with a proposed new European Competitiveness Fund, including €131 billion for Defence and Space.
With all this in mind, join us next week to explore what’s in store for the Copernicus programme and the EO community. Some questions that could be addressed during this EOcafe include:
- What have been the highlights of the Copernicus programme in the last 5 years? How has the programme changed in that time?
- In that time, the services have evolved considerably, what could be the main transformations in these?
- How has Copernicus changed decision making in Europe? What could be the main impacts?
- What will be the key technical developments to look out for in the coming years? And how will the Copernicus services evolve?
- What has been the impact of the changing geopolitical context on the programme? How will this translate going forward?
- How has the involvement of the EO private sector evolved during the programme and how will this develop in the coming years? What can the industry expect?
- In turn, what should EO service providers, SMEs and start-ups expect in the coming years? What opportunities will the evolution of the programme bring for them?
Registration: The webinar is open to all. Registration is free but compulsory.
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 month 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 Tanya Walker (tanya.walker@earsc.org).
