1. About EARSC and the EO Services Industry
Geoff Sawyer: EARSC Secretary General
2016

2. What is EARSC?
EARSC is a trade association (non-profit Belgian company), founded in 1989, which represents European companies: providing services (including consultancy) or supplying equipment in the field of remote sensing.
Our mission is:
to foster the development of the European Geo-Information Service Industry
to represent European geospatial-information providers, creating a sustainable network between industry, decision makers and users
Our focus is on the use of remote sensing from space-based platforms (satellites) and we have members from the full value-chain including aircraft and RPAS operators.
2016

3. EARSC Network 75 full members, 10 observers
From 22 countries in Europe
Full Members: any commercial company providing services (including consultancy) or supplying equipment in the field of remote sensing shall be eligible for full membership.
based in a European country which contributes to the European Space Agency or which is a member of the European Union
Observer Member: any organisation engaged in the supply or use of Remote Sensing which does not qualify to become a full member of the Association.
2016

4. What does EARSC do?
EARSC focus is on enabling the development of new business
Provide information to our members on programmes, policy and the sector; (business intelligence)
Maintain a knowledge of the industry, i.e. statistics, market information, etc.
Promote professional standards within the industry (certification)
Promote the industry and its capabilities by:
Creating links between EO services sector and other business sectors, e.g. oil & gas, insurance, public institutions e.g. the World Bank
Organising events offering networking opportunities as well as focused information
Advocacy towards policy makers on issues of concern
Awareness and media. e.g. eomag, OGEOZine, etc.
2016

5. WWW.EARSC.EU EARSC Web-Site
Provides direct access to EARSC Portal areas
Communities of interest
Information and communication
Industry resources
2016

6. Market development & promotion
19/09/2018
Market development & promotion
OGEO:
Link with Oil & Gas Industry
EOpages:
Brokerage site
EOmag:
Sector magazine
EO Portal (wiki):
Information on Geospatial services
Achievement
Award
EO4OG: guide to geospatial products for the O&G Industry
Research Corner
Annual Report
eo4All
Links with IFI’s
EARSC on Twitter
2016 6

7.
2016

8. africa-eopages.eu
Tool for finding partnerships between European and African companies
2016

9. Creating Networks of Interests: Communities
International:
Participating Organisation to GEO : to bring the European industry and international community into discussion
AARSE : to develop exchange between the European and African industries
WB/ADB : international financial institutions
Japan : Mou to be signed
Technologies:
ENEON (European Network of Earth Observation Networks)
community of in-situ network operators
Eurogi – European Geographic Information
Users
OGEO: to develop understanding and capability between EO and oil & gas industries
Copernicus Service Providers (EEE’s) : developing now.
Other industries: agriculture, mining/raw materials, insurance etc.
2016

10. EO4OG .... @ www.OGEO-Portal.eu
224 challenges facing the O&G industry
92 EO products to help solve those challenges
19 user case examples showing how EO information has solved business problems.
2016

11. EARSC Taxonomy of Services
2016

12. European EO Services Industry
Offers a full range of services based on extensive experience serving government, industry and the citizen
Includes data providers, downstream service providers, software and consultancy companies with a mastery of space-borne/airborne/in-situ systems and sensors technologies.
Innovative / dynamic; many new companies, changing ownership
Over 500 companies largely SME’s with:
strong partnership experience across European borders.
a highly skilled workforce; interchange with other sectors
Full industry surveys have been made by EARSC and published in September 2013 & 2015.
2016

13. EO Services Industry Sector Profile
Key Facts : From EARSC 2015 Industry Survey
63% = Proportion of companies with less than 10 EO employees:
96% with less than 50 employees
451 companies in Europe
6811 direct employees
€910m revenue
2016

14. How was EARSC created?
Founded in 1989 at a meeting hosted by ESA in Paris with the leading players at the time (Matra (F), T’spazio (I), Marconi (UK), BAe (UK), Dornier (D), Eurosense (B), Alcatel (F), Alenia (I), Thomson CSF (F), GAF (D) etc)
Model was the UK Association BARSC which was formed earlier (1982/3?).
Around 25 members by 1993 before failed attempt to raise the fees and employ some additional effort led to heavy decrease in membership
Rebuilt to more than 50 members by 1997
Appointed part-time executive secretary (Monica Miguel-Lago) in 2004 to provide some assistance to the chairman
Appointed Secretary General (Geoff Sawyer) in 2011.
Support from a stakeholder is essential : ESA has funded successive eovox studies which underpin the operations
2016

15. Some specific Projects
Industry Survey
Economic Benefit Assessments
Market Studies
ConnectinGEO : foster creation of ENEON
GeoCRADLE: Mapping & capacity building in Balkans, Middle East & N Africa.
NextGEOSS: European data hub for GEOSS
Marketplace for EO Services: Promotional and Brokering platform for on-line services (eopages = bespoke services)
2016

16. How does EARSC function?
Statutes define the Association legal basis as an Aisbl (non-profit making company under Belgian law)
Board of directors (12 now : increased from 10 in 2014) with 3 officers: chairman, vice-chairman and treasurer
Core secretariat of 3 persons (as of October 2016) since April 2014 : secretary-general, executive secretary, projects officer.
Working groups established on an ad-hoc basis when an issue demands
Industry best practice – certification and qualification
Data policy (not now active) : Copernicus free and open policy
ESA Ministerial : EO programme content for downstream
Open Source Software (being created)
2016

17. Challenges for an Association
Becoming the voice of the industry : establishing legitimacy
and finding the right messages which span the community interests
Finding the right business model
membership fees are rarely (never?) adequate to support Association core
seek external revenues which are:
fully aligned with members interests
Avoid competing with any members.
Balancing traditional “lobbying” role with others
developing new market opportunities
promote the industry capabilities
Delivery value to members (large / small) with different needs and spread over a large geographical area
2016

18. EARSC and Africa
We were pleased to support AARSE with the survey conducted earlier this year and hopefully to be repeated in 1 -2 years time.
Encourage the African industry to establish an “EARSC-like” private sector organisation
Our goal is to help develop closer co-operation between European and African companies
Copernicus and specifically GMES for Africa provide good tools and capabilities for enabling this.
2016

19. www.earsc.org www.eopages.eu
2016