EARSC And RPAG Sign MoU to Enhance EO Capabilities and Capacity Building Efforts in Africa and Europe

The European Association of Remote Sensing Companies (EARSC) and the Réseau des Professionels Africains de la Géomatique (RPAG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish formal cooperation between the two associations. EARSC is a European trade association representing more than 130 companies registered in 25 European countries that promotes the use of Earth Observation (EO) technology, while RPAG represents over 1000 Geomatics professionals in 28 countries and 26 companies, promoting the use of geomatics to solve African countries’ challenges.

The MoU disclosed by EARSC outlines plans to enhance and solidify the working relationship between the two associations. The focus is on Earth Observation capabilities and capacity-building activities, specifically emphasising collaboration between Africa and Europe. The MoU includes sharing information, promoting each other’s opportunities, cooperating on export business, marketing joint applications, organising joint meetings/events, and exploring research opportunities.

The primary beneficiaries of this MoU will be African and European organisations and companies wanting to develop partnerships and joint projects that are interested in benefiting from the sharing of best practices and exchange of expertise, information, and technologies linked to EO. EARSC and RPAG will support and facilitate this exchange.

Additionally, the MoU will encourage collaboration opportunities through the following activities:  mapping of actors and stakeholders; exploitation of Copernicus and Commercial data and services; and research and dissemination. The MoU is an important step towards promoting international collaboration within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (e.g., for the SDGs-EYES project) and developing new Earth Observation services for the benefit of African and European organisations and companies. 

The MoU will encourage these communities to use both associations’ existing tools and knowledge-sharing platforms. For example, EARSC developed the eoPAGES web platform with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA), while RPAG developed a web platform to optimise the development of EO Business. 

EARSC, via its vast experience and network of member companies, can provide useful assistance and transfer of technologies and know-how within Earth Observation to RPAG members. RPAG, which brings together EO professionals with a high level of expertise, can provide value-added services as part of the partnership.