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Resilient positioning, timing and synchronisation services together with high-resolution imagery are vital tools during times of uncertainty and geopolitical tension. When coupled with secure satellite communications capabilities, these three technologies can support humanitarian and other military operations of the European Union and its Member States.  

In recognition of the important role of space in defence and military operations, top EU legislators adopted the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence (EUSSD) in March 2023. The EUSSD is a direct implementation of the EU Strategic Compass, in which space, together with cyber and maritime, were identified as contested strategic domains, the security of which must be ensured. 

In a roundtable discussion moderated by Guillaume de La Brosse, Head of Unit Innovation & New Space - Space defence at DG DEFIS from the European Commission panellists representing OHB (Marcus Moeller), ICEYE (Rafal Modrzewski), the Exploration Company (Pierre Faucoup) and the Spanish Armed Forces (General Isaac Crespo Zaragoza) discussed challenges and opportunities. 

OHB was involved in the design and development of the first generation of Galileo satellites and is currently contributing to the development of the new Secure Connectivity flagship constellation, IRIS². Two essential elements according to Moeller are to enhance the dual use of space assets and the roll out tools so that Europe can ‘’act in space’’. For instance, he mentioned the development of an early warning system to be able to detect missiles from space. His views were shared by General Isaac Crespo Zaragoza, Chief of the Spanish Spatial Command who stressed the need to know what is happening in space, especially in such a congested environment.

During times of active conflict, such as the war in Ukraine, satellite products such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images are indispensable tools for decision makers. SAR images can be captured through clouds and at night, providing a source of valuable intelligence for relevant military and governmental actors.  According to the CEO of ICEYE, Rafal Modrzewski, the real added value of SAR in military operations is the high revisit time which constellations like ICEYE offer. 

EUSPA, a fundamental security actor in European space

EUSPA has a large portfolio to deliver on, which includes the security of the EU Space Programme and its components in space and on the ground. As Philippe Bertrand, chair of the EU Space Programme Security Accreditation Board (SAB) explained, the Board evaluates the resilience and protection of the EU space systems and services, including the responses to threat attacks.

He noted that the development of accreditation standards by the SAB has helped to spread a security culture within the space industrial sector, where cyber security is key.

"The SAB’s independence gives insurance to users that security is independently assessed, and they can confidently utilise EU space services," concluded Bertrand.

The EU Space Week 2023 has been concluded by Elisa Rivera, Head of Cabinet of the Secretary General for Innovation, Ministry of Science and Innovation on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the Council who recalled how important is the Space Programme of the EU to serve our fundamental European values, #Peace, #Security, #Sustainability, #WellBeing, #HumanRights… and how from the Space we can contribute to a more Stronger, United and Sustainable Europe closer to its citizens.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

Resilient positioning, timing and synchronisation services together with high-resolution imagery are vital tools during times of uncertainty and geopolitical tension. When coupled with secure satellite communications capabilities, these three technologies can support humanitarian and other military operations of the European Union and its Member States.  

In recognition of the important role of space in defence and military operations, top EU legislators adopted the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence (EUSSD) in March 2023. The EUSSD is a direct implementation of the EU Strategic Compass, in which space, together with cyber and maritime, were identified as contested strategic domains, the security of which must be ensured. 

In a roundtable discussion moderated by Guillaume de La Brosse, Head of Unit Innovation & New Space - Space defence at DG DEFIS from the European Commission panellists representing OHB (Marcus Moeller), ICEYE (Rafal Modrzewski), the Exploration Company (Pierre Faucoup) and the Spanish Armed Forces (General Isaac Crespo Zaragoza) discussed challenges and opportunities. 

OHB was involved in the design and development of the first generation of Galileo satellites and is currently contributing to the development of the new Secure Connectivity flagship constellation, IRIS². Two essential elements according to Moeller are to enhance the dual use of space assets and the roll out tools so that Europe can ‘’act in space’’. For instance, he mentioned the development of an early warning system to be able to detect missiles from space. His views were shared by General Isaac Crespo Zaragoza, Chief of the Spanish Spatial Command who stressed the need to know what is happening in space, especially in such a congested environment.

During times of active conflict, such as the war in Ukraine, satellite products such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images are indispensable tools for decision makers. SAR images can be captured through clouds and at night, providing a source of valuable intelligence for relevant military and governmental actors.  According to the CEO of ICEYE, Rafal Modrzewski, the real added value of SAR in military operations is the high revisit time which constellations like ICEYE offer. 

EUSPA, a fundamental security actor in European space

EUSPA has a large portfolio to deliver on, which includes the security of the EU Space Programme and its components in space and on the ground. As Philippe Bertrand, chair of the EU Space Programme Security Accreditation Board (SAB) explained, the Board evaluates the resilience and protection of the EU space systems and services, including the responses to threat attacks.

He noted that the development of accreditation standards by the SAB has helped to spread a security culture within the space industrial sector, where cyber security is key.

"The SAB’s independence gives insurance to users that security is independently assessed, and they can confidently utilise EU space services," concluded Bertrand.

The EU Space Week 2023 has been concluded by Elisa Rivera, Head of Cabinet of the Secretary General for Innovation, Ministry of Science and Innovation on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the Council who recalled how important is the Space Programme of the EU to serve our fundamental European values, #Peace, #Security, #Sustainability, #WellBeing, #HumanRights… and how from the Space we can contribute to a more Stronger, United and Sustainable Europe closer to its citizens.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

Artificial satellites are able to endure in space thanks to the unique materials used to create them. The production of satellite components relies on some of the much needed critical raw materials such as germanium and gallium. Both materials are used to produce important satellite components from transistors to solar panels. 

As Geert Vandenhoeck of Umicore, a leading circular materials technology company explained, around 90% of gallium and germanium is produced in and exported from Asia. "If China imposes export controls for these two materials, Europe could be in a vulnerable position" he said. 

His opinion was echoed by CEO of Semi Zabala, Dr. Simon Wainwright who firmly supported the creation a purely European supply chain to feed the EU Space Economy and ensure its autonomy. 

Becoming greener and more sustainable thanks to #EUspace 

During a Green Deal themed session moderated by the Head of Earth Observation at DG DEFIS, Mauro Facchini, panellists presented ways the Copernicus programme contributes to the implementation of the Union’s most ambitious plan to turn our continent climate neutral by 2050. 

Investing in renewables is a growing necessity. Geopolitical tensions and persistently soaring energy (gas) prices are pushing the Union to accelerate its transition to clean energy production, not only to deliver on Green Deal objectives (e.g., energy mix optimisation) but also to strengthen its energy sovereignty.

Copernicus can help here too, with a dedicated Copernicus Climate Service product called "reanalysis". As ECMWF’s Carlo Buontempo explained ‘’using reanalysis, decision makers in the energy sector can be well informed on energy investments, such as the optimal location for solar or wind farms or tidal power generation plants.’’

Climate reanalysis is a way of creating “maps without gaps” - a scientific method for developing a comprehensive record of climate trends and how the climate is changing over time. Reanalysis allows scientists to have the best possible understanding of what happened during a particular event, such as a heatwave or storm. Most importantly, it represents a comprehensive historical record of the Earth’s climate and provides an accurate way to monitor how fast it is changing.

Carmen Aguilera from EUSPA also explained that by implementing EGNOS approaches across European airports we’re able to drastically reduce aviation emissions. "In Almeria airport, the LPV approach procedure with EGNOS, together with efficient descent techniques, was able to reduce emissions by 38% with respect to ILS with conventional operational techniques”. 

Improving Access to Public funds 

The second half of Day 2 of EU Space Week was also focused on the much-needed funds for new Space companies to develop downstream or upstream applications. The European Commission, together with ESA, is exploring new ways of procuring directly from New Space companies. 

The Dynamic Purchasing System launched by the Directorate General for the Defence Industry already yielded positive results for many new space companies like Satlantis, which was one of the 9 companies that were awarded a €5 million contract for the Copernicus Contributing Missions.

As Guillaume de la Brosse pointed out the Commission has embarked into a new business model, the public-private partnership, to join forces directly with industry for the deployment of a programme with specific objectives and roles. This will be the case for the upcoming constellation for secure connectivity, IRIS² . 

All speakers of the session concluded that innovative procurement schemes should be maximised in the future so that public institutions act as anchor customers and are less involved the development phase.

The importance of access to funding was also highlighted during a dedicated CASSINI session where companies such IENAI SPACE and EOMAP shared their experience.

Honing skills and becoming more inclusive

While the space economy is growing fast, it is important to develop, hire and retain talent in the EU for a more resilient, green and digitally transformed space sector. 

During a session on skills and inclusion, a panel of diverse EU organisation, academia, industry and associations shared their thoughts on the skill gaps and inclusion when engaging in a space-related education and careers and what needs to be done to develop and retain the right talent in Europe.

"We have a massive challenge finding and retaining talent in the space sector. We cannot afford to miss out on talent by not being a diverse and inclusive industry," said board member Diana Pueyo at Women in Aerospace. 

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

Artificial satellites are able to endure in space thanks to the unique materials used to create them. The production of satellite components relies on some of the much needed critical raw materials such as germanium and gallium. Both materials are used to produce important satellite components from transistors to solar panels. 

As Geert Vandenhoeck of Umicore, a leading circular materials technology company explained, around 90% of gallium and germanium is produced in and exported from Asia. "If China imposes export controls for these two materials, Europe could be in a vulnerable position" he said. 

His opinion was echoed by CEO of Semi Zabala, Dr. Simon Wainwright who firmly supported the creation a purely European supply chain to feed the EU Space Economy and ensure its autonomy. 

Becoming greener and more sustainable thanks to #EUspace 

During a Green Deal themed session moderated by the Head of Earth Observation at DG DEFIS, Mauro Facchini, panellists presented ways the Copernicus programme contributes to the implementation of the Union’s most ambitious plan to turn our continent climate neutral by 2050. 

Investing in renewables is a growing necessity. Geopolitical tensions and persistently soaring energy (gas) prices are pushing the Union to accelerate its transition to clean energy production, not only to deliver on Green Deal objectives (e.g., energy mix optimisation) but also to strengthen its energy sovereignty.

Copernicus can help here too, with a dedicated Copernicus Climate Service product called "reanalysis". As ECMWF’s Carlo Buontempo explained ‘’using reanalysis, decision makers in the energy sector can be well informed on energy investments, such as the optimal location for solar or wind farms or tidal power generation plants.’’

Climate reanalysis is a way of creating “maps without gaps” - a scientific method for developing a comprehensive record of climate trends and how the climate is changing over time. Reanalysis allows scientists to have the best possible understanding of what happened during a particular event, such as a heatwave or storm. Most importantly, it represents a comprehensive historical record of the Earth’s climate and provides an accurate way to monitor how fast it is changing.

Carmen Aguilera from EUSPA also explained that by implementing EGNOS approaches across European airports we’re able to drastically reduce aviation emissions. "In Almeria airport, the LPV approach procedure with EGNOS, together with efficient descent techniques, was able to reduce emissions by 38% with respect to ILS with conventional operational techniques”. 

Improving Access to Public funds 

The second half of Day 2 of EU Space Week was also focused on the much-needed funds for new Space companies to develop downstream or upstream applications. The European Commission, together with ESA, is exploring new ways of procuring directly from New Space companies. 

The Dynamic Purchasing System launched by the Directorate General for the Defence Industry already yielded positive results for many new space companies like Satlantis, which was one of the 9 companies that were awarded a €5 million contract for the Copernicus Contributing Missions.

As Guillaume de la Brosse pointed out the Commission has embarked into a new business model, the public-private partnership, to join forces directly with industry for the deployment of a programme with specific objectives and roles. This will be the case for the upcoming constellation for secure connectivity, IRIS² . 

All speakers of the session concluded that innovative procurement schemes should be maximised in the future so that public institutions act as anchor customers and are less involved the development phase.

The importance of access to funding was also highlighted during a dedicated CASSINI session where companies such IENAI SPACE and EOMAP shared their experience.

Honing skills and becoming more inclusive

While the space economy is growing fast, it is important to develop, hire and retain talent in the EU for a more resilient, green and digitally transformed space sector. 

During a session on skills and inclusion, a panel of diverse EU organisation, academia, industry and associations shared their thoughts on the skill gaps and inclusion when engaging in a space-related education and careers and what needs to be done to develop and retain the right talent in Europe.

"We have a massive challenge finding and retaining talent in the space sector. We cannot afford to miss out on talent by not being a diverse and inclusive industry," said board member Diana Pueyo at Women in Aerospace. 

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

Artificial satellites are able to endure in space thanks to the unique materials used to create them. The production of satellite components relies on some of the much needed critical raw materials such as germanium and gallium. Both materials are used to produce important satellite components from transistors to solar panels. 

As Geert Vandenhoeck of Umicore, a leading circular materials technology company explained, around 90% of gallium and germanium is produced in and exported from Asia. "If China imposes export controls for these two materials, Europe could be in a vulnerable position" he said. 

His opinion was echoed by CEO of Semi Zabala, Dr. Simon Wainwright who firmly supported the creation a purely European supply chain to feed the EU Space Economy and ensure its autonomy. 

Becoming greener and more sustainable thanks to #EUspace 

During a Green Deal themed session moderated by the Head of Earth Observation at DG DEFIS, Mauro Facchini, panellists presented ways the Copernicus programme contributes to the implementation of the Union’s most ambitious plan to turn our continent climate neutral by 2050. 

Investing in renewables is a growing necessity. Geopolitical tensions and persistently soaring energy (gas) prices are pushing the Union to accelerate its transition to clean energy production, not only to deliver on Green Deal objectives (e.g., energy mix optimisation) but also to strengthen its energy sovereignty.

Copernicus can help here too, with a dedicated Copernicus Climate Service product called "reanalysis". As ECMWF’s Carlo Buontempo explained ‘’using reanalysis, decision makers in the energy sector can be well informed on energy investments, such as the optimal location for solar or wind farms or tidal power generation plants.’’

Climate reanalysis is a way of creating “maps without gaps” - a scientific method for developing a comprehensive record of climate trends and how the climate is changing over time. Reanalysis allows scientists to have the best possible understanding of what happened during a particular event, such as a heatwave or storm. Most importantly, it represents a comprehensive historical record of the Earth’s climate and provides an accurate way to monitor how fast it is changing.

Carmen Aguilera from EUSPA also explained that by implementing EGNOS approaches across European airports we’re able to drastically reduce aviation emissions. "In Almeria airport, the LPV approach procedure with EGNOS, together with efficient descent techniques, was able to reduce emissions by 38% with respect to ILS with conventional operational techniques”. 

Improving Access to Public funds 

The second half of Day 2 of EU Space Week was also focused on the much-needed funds for new Space companies to develop downstream or upstream applications. The European Commission, together with ESA, is exploring new ways of procuring directly from New Space companies. 

The Dynamic Purchasing System launched by the Directorate General for the Defence Industry already yielded positive results for many new space companies like Satlantis, which was one of the 9 companies that were awarded a €5 million contract for the Copernicus Contributing Missions.

As Guillaume de la Brosse pointed out the Commission has embarked into a new business model, the public-private partnership, to join forces directly with industry for the deployment of a programme with specific objectives and roles. This will be the case for the upcoming constellation for secure connectivity, IRIS² . 

All speakers of the session concluded that innovative procurement schemes should be maximised in the future so that public institutions act as anchor customers and are less involved the development phase.

The importance of access to funding was also highlighted during a dedicated CASSINI session where companies such IENAI SPACE and EOMAP shared their experience.

Honing skills and becoming more inclusive

While the space economy is growing fast, it is important to develop, hire and retain talent in the EU for a more resilient, green and digitally transformed space sector. 

During a session on skills and inclusion, a panel of diverse EU organisation, academia, industry and associations shared their thoughts on the skill gaps and inclusion when engaging in a space-related education and careers and what needs to be done to develop and retain the right talent in Europe.

"We have a massive challenge finding and retaining talent in the space sector. We cannot afford to miss out on talent by not being a diverse and inclusive industry," said board member Diana Pueyo at Women in Aerospace. 

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

Artificial satellites are able to endure in space thanks to the unique materials used to create them. The production of satellite components relies on some of the much needed critical raw materials such as germanium and gallium. Both materials are used to produce important satellite components from transistors to solar panels. 

As Geert Vandenhoeck of Umicore, a leading circular materials technology company explained, around 90% of gallium and germanium is produced in and exported from Asia. "If China imposes export controls for these two materials, Europe could be in a vulnerable position" he said. 

His opinion was echoed by CEO of Semi Zabala, Dr. Simon Wainwright who firmly supported the creation a purely European supply chain to feed the EU Space Economy and ensure its autonomy. 

Becoming greener and more sustainable thanks to #EUspace 

During a Green Deal themed session moderated by the Head of Earth Observation at DG DEFIS, Mauro Facchini, panellists presented ways the Copernicus programme contributes to the implementation of the Union’s most ambitious plan to turn our continent climate neutral by 2050. 

Investing in renewables is a growing necessity. Geopolitical tensions and persistently soaring energy (gas) prices are pushing the Union to accelerate its transition to clean energy production, not only to deliver on Green Deal objectives (e.g., energy mix optimisation) but also to strengthen its energy sovereignty.

Copernicus can help here too, with a dedicated Copernicus Climate Service product called "reanalysis". As ECMWF’s Carlo Buontempo explained ‘’using reanalysis, decision makers in the energy sector can be well informed on energy investments, such as the optimal location for solar or wind farms or tidal power generation plants.’’

Climate reanalysis is a way of creating “maps without gaps” - a scientific method for developing a comprehensive record of climate trends and how the climate is changing over time. Reanalysis allows scientists to have the best possible understanding of what happened during a particular event, such as a heatwave or storm. Most importantly, it represents a comprehensive historical record of the Earth’s climate and provides an accurate way to monitor how fast it is changing.

Carmen Aguilera from EUSPA also explained that by implementing EGNOS approaches across European airports we’re able to drastically reduce aviation emissions. "In Almeria airport, the LPV approach procedure with EGNOS, together with efficient descent techniques, was able to reduce emissions by 38% with respect to ILS with conventional operational techniques”. 

Improving Access to Public funds 

The second half of Day 2 of EU Space Week was also focused on the much-needed funds for new Space companies to develop downstream or upstream applications. The European Commission, together with ESA, is exploring new ways of procuring directly from New Space companies. 

The Dynamic Purchasing System launched by the Directorate General for the Defence Industry already yielded positive results for many new space companies like Satlantis, which was one of the 9 companies that were awarded a €5 million contract for the Copernicus Contributing Missions.

As Guillaume de la Brosse pointed out the Commission has embarked into a new business model, the public-private partnership, to join forces directly with industry for the deployment of a programme with specific objectives and roles. This will be the case for the upcoming constellation for secure connectivity, IRIS² . 

All speakers of the session concluded that innovative procurement schemes should be maximised in the future so that public institutions act as anchor customers and are less involved the development phase.

The importance of access to funding was also highlighted during a dedicated CASSINI session where companies such IENAI SPACE and EOMAP shared their experience.

Honing skills and becoming more inclusive

While the space economy is growing fast, it is important to develop, hire and retain talent in the EU for a more resilient, green and digitally transformed space sector. 

During a session on skills and inclusion, a panel of diverse EU organisation, academia, industry and associations shared their thoughts on the skill gaps and inclusion when engaging in a space-related education and careers and what needs to be done to develop and retain the right talent in Europe.

"We have a massive challenge finding and retaining talent in the space sector. We cannot afford to miss out on talent by not being a diverse and inclusive industry," said board member Diana Pueyo at Women in Aerospace. 

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

Did you know that of the 300 million tonnes of plastic produced every year, an estimated 26 million eventually ends up in the ocean? As a result, some estimates suggest there are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic floating around the oceans and washing up onto beaches and coastal areas. 

There are options to tackle this plastic sea party! Thanks to initiatives like the CASSINI Prize for digital space applications, we now have a range of innovative, space-based solutions ready to detect, monitor and remove plastics, microplastics and other litter from our oceans and waterways.  

“Addressing the ocean's plastic problem starts with identifying and tracking the debris, which is exactly what each of our winning applications is doing, essential information for authorities or NGOs,” says Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director of the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). 

CASSINI is the European Commission’s initiative to support entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs developing innovative applications and services that leverage the EU Space Programme. Dedicated to promoting the commercialisation of Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus data and services, EUSPA is actively involved in the initiative.

With a total prize purse of EUR 2.85 million, the Maritime CASSINI Prize for Digital Space Applications sought innovative commercial solutions that leverage Copernicus, Europe’s Earth Observation programme; Galileo, the EU’s Global Navigation Satellite System; and/or EGNOS, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System – used in combination with other data sources – to track and remove marine plastic pollution.   

Because the contest aimed to create a new ecosystem of entrepreneurs, applications were limited to SMEs having a close-to-market solution. 

After a rigorous review process and a challenging demonstration requirement where applicants had to prove their solution’s effectiveness in real-world conditions, EUSPA and the European Commission announced the winners during the EU Space Week 2023 in Sevilla, Spain.

The winners

• Coastal Marine Litter Observatory by SCIDRONES: Using an innovative combination of Copernicus multi-spectral data with high-resolution drone imagery and advanced AI-algorithms, this application helps differentiate between plastic pollution and natural debris sources such as driftwood and seaweed. Local authorities can use the application to guide their cleanup operations, allocating resources to those beaches and environments most affected by plastic pollution. 
• Eyes on Plastic by EOMAP: This data-driven web app combines Sentinel-2 optical imagery and commercial optical satellite imagery, on-site cameras, cloud-based big data processing chains, Earth Observation analytics and crowdsourcing to identify, map and monitor plastic pollution in near real-time. The solution looks to help governmental stakeholders meet their mandates for managing and reporting plastic pollution, including that found in rivers.  
• Ocean Plastic Alert and Tracking by GEOMATYS Combining satellite images with meteorological and oceanographic models, this application is designed to detect debris at sea from space and predict its drift. By coupling ocean current and wind models with satellite observations, the solution can make forecasts both forwards and backwards in time. This allows coastal authorities to locate and predict where the front of plastic and debris is after a major weather crisis that causes navigational safety issues. It also optimises the collection of debris in collaboration with the likes of fishing boats.

All three winners received a EUR 950,000.00 cash prize, which will be used to further develop, scale up and, ultimately, give the real push for the commercialisation and promotion of their applications.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

Did you know that of the 300 million tonnes of plastic produced every year, an estimated 26 million eventually ends up in the ocean? As a result, some estimates suggest there are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic floating around the oceans and washing up onto beaches and coastal areas. 

There are options to tackle this plastic sea party! Thanks to initiatives like the CASSINI Prize for digital space applications, we now have a range of innovative, space-based solutions ready to detect, monitor and remove plastics, microplastics and other litter from our oceans and waterways.  

“Addressing the ocean's plastic problem starts with identifying and tracking the debris, which is exactly what each of our winning applications is doing, essential information for authorities or NGOs,” says Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director of the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). 

CASSINI is the European Commission’s initiative to support entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs developing innovative applications and services that leverage the EU Space Programme. Dedicated to promoting the commercialisation of Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus data and services, EUSPA is actively involved in the initiative.

With a total prize purse of EUR 2.85 million, the Maritime CASSINI Prize for Digital Space Applications sought innovative commercial solutions that leverage Copernicus, Europe’s Earth Observation programme; Galileo, the EU’s Global Navigation Satellite System; and/or EGNOS, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System – used in combination with other data sources – to track and remove marine plastic pollution.   

Because the contest aimed to create a new ecosystem of entrepreneurs, applications were limited to SMEs having a close-to-market solution. 

After a rigorous review process and a challenging demonstration requirement where applicants had to prove their solution’s effectiveness in real-world conditions, EUSPA and the European Commission announced the winners during the EU Space Week 2023 in Sevilla, Spain.

The winners

• Coastal Marine Litter Observatory by SCIDRONES: Using an innovative combination of Copernicus multi-spectral data with high-resolution drone imagery and advanced AI-algorithms, this application helps differentiate between plastic pollution and natural debris sources such as driftwood and seaweed. Local authorities can use the application to guide their cleanup operations, allocating resources to those beaches and environments most affected by plastic pollution. Learn more.
• Eyes on Plastic by EOMAP: This data-driven web app combines Sentinel-2 optical imagery and commercial optical satellite imagery, on-site cameras, cloud-based big data processing chains, Earth Observation analytics and crowdsourcing to identify, map and monitor plastic pollution in near real-time. The solution looks to help governmental stakeholders meet their mandates for managing and reporting plastic pollution, including that found in rivers.  Learn more.
• Ocean Plastic Alert and Tracking by GEOMATYS Combining satellite images with meteorological and oceanographic models, this application is designed to detect debris at sea from space and predict its drift. By coupling ocean current and wind models with satellite observations, the solution can make forecasts both forwards and backwards in time. This allows coastal authorities to locate and predict where the front of plastic and debris is after a major weather crisis that causes navigational safety issues. It also optimises the collection of debris in collaboration with the likes of fishing boats. Learn more.

All three winners received a EUR 950,000.00 cash prize, which will be used to further develop, scale up and, ultimately, give the real push for the commercialisation and promotion of their applications.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).