Empowering a New Generation of Users in the Earth Observation Sector. Join the EO4GEO Alliance!

The EO4GEO project aimed to bridge the skills gap between the supply and demand of education and training in the space geoinformation sectors, fostering the uptake and integration of space geoinformation data and services in a broad range of application domains.

The first phase of the EO4GEO project finished in June 2022. Now it is being followed by the next phase called the EO4GEO Alliance!

The EO4GEO alliance is a new collaboration network with over 20 members. The Alliance aims to maintain, enhance and further develop the EO4GEO products and services, as well as to engage its members in new initiatives and projects devoted to achieving the strategic objectives set in the EO4GEO Sector Skills Strategy, for which sources of funding are being identified at European as well as at national and regional level.

About the EO4GEO Project

The EO4GEO project began in January 2018 as a response to modern technological challenges. One of the goals of the project was the training and education of specialists and researchers in EO*GI (Earth Observation and Geographic Information) sector. This project was an Erasmus+ Sector Skills Alliance gathering 25 partners from 13 EU countries, most of which are part of the Copernicus Academy Network.

EO4GEO aimed to bridge the skills gap between the supply and demand of education and training in the space geoinformation sectors, fostering the uptake and integration of space geoinformation data and services in a broad range of application domains.

How to become an Earth Observation specialist? Start with the Copernicus Skills Programme

EO4GEO worked in a multi and interdisciplinary way, applying innovative solutions for its education and training actions: case-based and collaborative learning scenarios; learning-while-doing in a living lab environment; on-the-job training and co-creation of knowledge, skills and competencies.

The project ended in June 2022, closely collaborating with DG DEFIS (Copernicus) and DG EMPLOYMENT to reach its strategic objectives.

Tangible results

The EO4GEO project produced several valuable, tangible results that are already being used widely in the Earth Observation and Geo-Information sectors in Europe. These products and services include:

• Ontology-based Body of Knowledge for the space geoinformation sector based on previous efforts.
• A series of curricula and a rich portfolio of training modules directly usable in the context of Copernicus and other relevant programmes
• A dynamic collaborative platform with associated open tools.
• A series of training actions for a selected set of scenarios in three sub-sectors – integrated applications, smart cities and climate change to test and validate the approach.

DotSpace foundation as a part of EO4GEO

In 2021 DotSPACE Junior Consultant Tessa Buckley was invited by EO4GEO to provide insights about her experience as a young professional entering the workplace. This opportunity arose following Tessa’s success of being one of the winners of the IconGeo student essay competition. The competition was about research using remote sensing and earth observation techniques, under the theme ‘looking at the environment.’

Tessa’s research essay was titled: ‘Looking at the Environment: Climate Change Impacts on the Barisal River Delta Mangroves in Bangladesh, from 1988 to 2010’. In her research, she used Landsat NDVI imagery. In addition to publication in GeoAwesomeness Magazine, Tessa’s ‘blog style’ Q&A interview was published by EO4GEO. The importance of EO4GEO to young professionals is paramount for bridging the gap between academia and the space data industry. In addition to EO4GEO providing one of her first experiences outside of academia, Tessa discovered the job opening at DotSPACE on its internships and jobs portal. 

DotSpace is a member of the Steering Committee of the EO4GEO Alliance.

What is the EO4GEO Alliance?

The EO4GEO Alliance allows you to expand your network and connect with geospatial organisations and universities across Europe. The Alliance covers a broad space downstream and geoinformation sector, taking into consideration all components of the Space Programme  (Earth Observation, navigation,  positioning, secure connectivity, ….).

By joining the EO4GEO Alliance you will be able to:

• Participate in key discussion panels at the EC level regarding skills development in the Space downstream and Geoinformation sector.
• Have timely information on open and upcoming skills development and capacity building-related calls for funding of new projects and initiatives at the EC level.
• Participate in and contribute to education and training services developed under the EO4GEO brand.
• Be part of a dynamic international partnership allowing you to access and bundle your knowledge and expertise.
• Be engaged in the Large Scale Partnership for the Space downstream and Geoinformation sector to be submitted to DG EMPL under the Pact for Skills, accessing dedicated service set by the Commission.
• Be part of a recognised brand acting collectively towards relevant institutions and reaching out to key stakeholders with a stronger impact.

• Have visibility on the Alliance website and promote your activities via the channels operated by the Alliance, including social media, newsletters, and sectoral events of interest.
• Have the power to vote in the General Assembly of the Alliance, participate in the election of the Steering Committee and propose candidates to cover that role and have your say in the definition of the main activities and strategies, as well as of the operational budget.

Join the EO4GEO Alliance

The EO4GEO Alliance calls for all stakeholders in the Space downstream and Geoinformation sector interested to pull efforts together to foster skills development in the covered domain to join the Alliance, establish synergies and collaborate. 

To become a member of the EO4GEO Alliance you simply have to fill in the request form and provide your contact details.

Upon submission of the form, you will be contacted about the membership process. This basically requires you to accept and sign the EO4GEO Alliance Network Agreement. Your application will then be discussed and approved by the Steering Committee. Once approved, you will be a full member of the Alliance, being involved in its activities and having full voting rights in the General Assembly.

EO4GEO Alliance membership request form

Subscribe to the EO4GEO Alliance newsletter

Featured image: the EO4GEO Final Conference (2022), via the EO4GEO website

Authors: Kacia Rutkoŭskaja, Tessa Buckley 

Edited: Remco Timmermans