| From the Publisher
By Roland Mangold Is Europe Developing an Earth Observation Industrial Policy?
Europe has a diversity of opinions on Earth observation data policy in part because of the differing national objectives of its member states. The different approaches to Earth observation data policy often originate with the lead department for Earth observation within national governments, and opinions are often divided and are poorly developed from the user side.
In order to address the myriad unresolved issues related to the European Earth observation industry, the European Commission sponsored a project under Framework IV entitled Earth Observation Data Policy and Europe (EOPOLE). The two primary objectives of the EOPOLE project are: To review and coordinate relevant European national research in Earth observation data policy with a strong user perspective. And, to identify and recommend improvements to Earth observation data policy with a distinctly European perspective in order to provide better conditions for the expansion of the Earth observation sector.
The final report of EOPOLE was completed last fall and can be found at www.geog.ucl.ac.uk/eopole, it stated, "Europe has strategic objectives in supporting Earth observation, including the contribution made by Earth observation to environmental security, defense security and independence. There is a case for European funding to be used to contribute positively to these broader European strategic objectives. Because of the prospective and increasing economic, social and public benefits of Earth observation, the sector is a likely and logical element of the Internal Market being developed further in the context of the European Union. Involvement of the European Union, and more specifically of the European Community legal order, is justified because it enhances the competitiveness of European Earth observation and related industries in global markets."
"The market for Earth observation data and products is relatively small, fragmented, immature and complex. A report produced by ESYS for the European Commission showed that the European market for Earth observation data, products and services in 1998 was 207 million euros. A recent report by Merrill Lynch has forecast the growth of the Earth observation market to US$6.5 billion by 2007, mainly based on the introduction of very high resolution (VHR) data. Increasing the size of this immature market is still the key to developing Earth observation into a sustainable sector, where 'sustainable' in this context means funding by customers and users rather than sponsors," EOPOLE reports.
Europeans, as well as North Americans, who are involved in, or considering involvement in, Earth observation are racking their collective and individual consciousness to figure out how they are going to get a piece of the famous, albeit mythical Merrill Lynch Earth Observation market figures.
EOPOLE provides some insight to Europe's Earth Observation aspirations, "Europe at large has strategic objectives in supporting Earth observation, including the contribution made by Earth observation to environmental security, technology security and independence. There is a case for the European Commission Structural Funds to be used to contribute positively to these broader European strategic objectives by a rebalancing of government funding. At present in Europe funding for Earth observation is provided by governments largely for the building and operation of Earth observation satellites. An alternative model is to provide funds to local and regional users, in this case via the European Structural Fund, or via support to global scale environmental monitoring, who then buy Earth observation data, products and services and so assist the growth and maturity of the Earth observation market, including the construction of satellites."
Europe has a huge vested interest in Earth observation, not limited to the reasons laid out herein, and not the least of which is good old fashioned greed. For the last three or four centuries, Europe has led the charge in global economic development (it used to be called imperialism) and you can count on some European consortiums playing very major roles on the global Earth observation stage.
Sometimes we can get a little myopic in our perspective, but the USA is by no means alone in this industry. And, where the US Government avoids getting embroiled in industrial policy, Europe takes a much more long-term, strategic approach to these types of issues. As opposed to the U.S.'s haphazard, shortsighted, reactive, proprietary, idiosyncratic, government bureaucratic and corporate empire-building approach. Hey, it may not be perfect, but it's the best system in the world. US remote sensing and GIS companies are world leaders in technology and market presence. But, we need to be vigilant of others lurking out there creating industrial policy to take advantage of the opportunities being presented in this industry. I just hope our approach allows us to maintain our competitiveness. Until next time . .
Cheers! 
Roland Mangold
Publisher, Earth Observation Magazine
E-mail: [email protected]
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