Final Conference 2022-05-31T14:51:11+00:00

EO4GEO Final Conference “Shaping the EO*GI skills of the future”

Organized by the EO4GEO Alliance

The conference took place on the 17th and 18th of May as a hybrid event online and in Brussels

The conference “Shaping the EO*GI skills of the future” took place on the 17th and 18th of May as a hybrid event online and in Brussels.

The event brought together a broad and diverse range of stakeholders in the field of EO*GI including European institutions (the European Commission, EUSPA, ESA, as well as local and regional ones), with representatives of the private sector and academia and training providers, who discussed together the current needs and education gaps in the EO*GI sector, what means are put in place to tackle it, and what additional steps and initiatives shall be further undertaken.

The conference also showcased the work done under EO4GEO and defined how the Blueprint project will transition into post-project legacy led by the EO4GEO skills Alliance aimed at supporting skills building in the sector. The impact of bridging the skills gap will contribute towards forming a workforce capable to support and implement numerous policies such as the European Green Deal and the monitoring of the UN’s SGDs.

To learn more about EO4GEO’s mission to bridge the skills gap in the space/geospatial sector and for additional context on the discussion, please consult the EO4GEO Sector Skills Strategy report, which defines specific actional objectives on the way forward.

The Conference “Shaping the EO*GI skills of the future” was an associated event of the European Vocational Skills Week 2022 organised by DG Employment of the European Commission.

Agenda, presentations and videos

DAY 1: 17th May 2022

Session: EO4GEO Sector Skills Alliance: way forward. Watch the video

  • Welcoming statement – Vytaute Ezerskiene, Project Officer, EACEA
  • Lessons learnt from the EO4GEO Alliance and the steps forwardDanny Vandenbroucke, EO4GEO scientific coordinator, KU Leuven
  • Uptake of EO4GEO results and open discussion on the way forward
  • Wrap-up of open discussion on the way forward
  • Panel discussion and closing remarks  – Moderator: Danny Vandenbroucke

Session: Need for new EO*GI skills. Watch the video

  • Opening statementJulie Fionda – Deputy Head of Unit, Skills and Qualifications, DG Employment, European Commission

I. Policy context

  • Skills supporting the growth of the space ecosystemMaria Vittoria D’Inzeo – Policy Officer, DG DEFIS, European Commission. Download the presentation
  • Green skills to support Europe’s green transitionSolveig Zophoniasdottir – Learning Services Lead, EIT Climate-KIC. Download the presentation.

II. Initiatives and activities addressing EO*GI skills building

  • ESA skills-building and educational activities on Earth ObservationNatacha Callens, ESA Academy Administrator, European Space Agency. Download the presentation.
  • Market needs influencing the EO*GI skills of the future Chiara Solimini, Space Downstream Market Officer – European Union Agency for the Space Programme. Download the presentation.
  • EO needs for monitoring of land policiesRene Colditz, Policy Officer at DG CLIMATE ACTION, European Commission. Download the presentation.
  • EO*GI skills building in international contextRobert Eckardt – Project Coordinator ‘EO College & EO Connect’, Friedrich Schiller University Jena; EOTEC DevNet. Watch the video

III. EO4GEO addressing the EO*GI skills gap

  • EO4GEO: addressing the skills gap in the EO*GI sectorDanny Vandenbroucke – EO4GEO scientific coordinator, KU Leuven. Download the presentation.
  • Testimonials session on the use of EO4GEO toolsEugenia Sarafova – Senior Assistant Professor, Sofia University. Download the presentationJuan José Sáenz de la Torre – Head of Communications, Predictia. Download the presentation.

Day 2: 18th May 2022

Session: Recognising and addressing skills gaps in the EO*GI sector. Watch the video

  • A welcome note and introduction to the EO4GEO Alliance and its role in EO*GI skills buildingMilva Carbonaro, EO4GEO project coordinator, GISIG. Download the presentation
  • Skills development demands in the private EO*GI sectorBabs Dumont – HR Director, Geographic Information Management NV. Download the presentation
  • Skills development demands in the public EO*GI sectorIngrid Vanden Berge – General manager, National Geographic Institute of Belgium. Download the presentation
  • Need for EO*GI skills in local and regional governmentsFrancisco Wallenstein – Chairman of the Board of Directors RAEGE Azores Association. Download the presentation
  • Citizen science in the EO*GI sectorLinda See – Senior Research Scholar, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. Download the presentation
  • A new look at IoT: the Interrelationships of Things in the EO*GI sectorAnna Spiteri – Managing Director, Integrated Resources Management Co.Ltd. Download the presentation
  • PANEL DISCUSSION – Identifying and addressing skills gaps in the domain of EO*GI. Watch the video

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