CopHub.AC · Project

Find the Right Satellite Data Experts Across Europe in Minutes

environmentTestedTRL 5Thin data (2/5)

Imagine you want to use satellite images to monitor crops, track pollution, or plan city growth — but you have no idea which university or research team in Europe actually knows how to do that. CopHub.AC built a searchable map of who knows what across the entire Copernicus Earth observation community. Think of it like a LinkedIn for satellite science expertise, plus a dashboard that tracks where the hottest innovation is happening. The goal was to make it much easier for businesses to find and connect with the right academic partners.

By the numbers

consortium partners across the network

European countries covered

months project duration

SME partners in the consortium

total project deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Companies that want to use EU satellite Earth observation data (Copernicus) face a fragmented landscape of academic expertise scattered across dozens of universities in multiple countries. There is no easy way to find which research group has the specific competence you need — whether that is crop monitoring, urban heat mapping, or flood risk analysis. This means businesses waste months searching for the right academic partner or miss out on available expertise entirely.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered two key tools: the Copernicus Academy Knowledge Landscape — an interactive map of distributed expertise and competences across Copernicus Academy members — and the Copernicus Innovation Monitor, a dashboard linking Copernicus innovation potential to the EU Innovation Scoreboard. In total, 10 deliverables were produced over 24 months.

Audience

Who needs this

Geospatial analytics companies building services on Copernicus satellite dataPrecision agriculture firms needing remote sensing expertiseEnvironmental consulting companies adding satellite monitoring to their portfolioSmart city solution providers using Earth observation for urban planningInsurance companies developing satellite-based risk assessment products

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Earth Observation Services

SME

Target: Geospatial analytics companies building products on top of Copernicus satellite data

If you are a geospatial analytics company struggling to find specialized academic partners for new product development — this project built the Copernicus Academy Knowledge Landscape, an interactive tool mapping expertise across 8 European countries. Instead of cold-emailing dozens of universities, you can identify the exact research group with the skills you need. The Innovation Monitor dashboard also helps you spot emerging capabilities before your competitors do.

Agriculture Technology

SME

Target: Precision farming companies using remote sensing for crop monitoring

If you are an agtech company that needs satellite-derived crop analytics but lacks in-house remote sensing expertise — this project mapped the distributed knowledge of Copernicus Academy members so you can find university teams working on vegetation monitoring, soil analysis, or drought detection. The knowledge landscape covers competences across 12 consortium partners, letting you shortcut months of partner searching.

Environmental Consulting

mid-size

Target: Environmental monitoring firms needing satellite-based assessment tools

If you are an environmental consultancy looking to add satellite-based land use change or pollution monitoring to your service portfolio — this project created tools to connect you with the right academic groups across Europe. The Innovation Monitor links Copernicus capabilities to the EU Innovation Scoreboard, helping you identify which emerging techniques are closest to commercial readiness.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to access these tools?

The Copernicus Academy Knowledge Landscape and Innovation Monitor were developed as public-facing tools under EU funding. Based on available project data, these are coordination resources rather than commercial products, so access is likely free through the project website. However, the project ended in 2020, so current availability should be verified.

Can this scale to cover industries beyond the original Copernicus community?

The knowledge landscape was designed specifically for Copernicus Academy members across 8 countries. The methodology of mapping distributed competences could potentially be adapted for other domains, but the current tools are tied to the Earth observation ecosystem. Scaling would require new data collection and partnerships.

What about intellectual property and licensing?

This was a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), not a technology development project. The tools created — the Knowledge Landscape and Innovation Monitor — are coordination instruments rather than patentable technologies. Based on available project data, IP restrictions are unlikely to be a barrier to use.

Is this still actively maintained after the project ended?

The project ran from 2018 to 2020 and included recommendations for continuation under long-term funding. Based on available project data, the consortium planned for sustainability through a permanent secretariat, but current operational status should be confirmed directly with the coordinator at Paris-Lodron-Universitat Salzburg.

How does this integrate with existing business workflows?

The Knowledge Landscape is an interactive graphical tool and the Innovation Monitor is a dashboard, both web-based. They serve as scouting and partner-finding tools rather than software that integrates into your tech stack. Think of them as research resources you consult when starting a new project or looking for academic collaborators.

What regulations or standards does this address?

The project supports uptake of the EU Copernicus programme, which provides free and open Earth observation data under EU regulation. Using Copernicus data can help companies comply with environmental reporting requirements. The Innovation Monitor is linked to the EU Innovation Scoreboard methodology.

Consortium

Who built it

The CopHub.AC consortium brings together 12 partners from 8 European countries, led by Paris-Lodron-Universitat Salzburg in Austria. The mix is heavily academic — 6 universities form the backbone, which makes sense for a project mapping academic expertise. Three industry partners and 4 SMEs provide the business perspective, giving a 25% industry ratio. This is a coordination-focused team rather than a technology-building one, so the value for businesses lies in the network connections and tools they created, not in transferable hardware or software IP.

PARIS-LODRON-UNIVERSITAT SALZBURGCoordinator · AT
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DELLA BASILICATAparticipant · IT
TECHNOLOGIKO PANEPISTIMIO KYPROUparticipant · CY
EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF REMOTE SENSING COMPANIESparticipant · BE
EVENFLOWparticipant · BE
STICHTING CLIMATE-KIC INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATIONparticipant · NL
RASDAMAN GMBHparticipant · DE
KLAIPEDOS UNIVERSITETASparticipant · LT
UNIVERSIDAD DE MALAGAparticipant · ES
GISIG GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL GROUP ASSOCIAZIONEparticipant · IT
KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVENparticipant · BE

How to reach the team

Coordinator is based at Paris-Lodron-Universitat Salzburg (Austria). SciTransfer can help establish the right introduction to discuss continued access to the Knowledge Landscape and Innovation Monitor tools.

Order a report on this consortium See PARIS-LODRON-UNIVERSITAT SALZBURG profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to find the right Earth observation research partner in Europe? SciTransfer can navigate the Copernicus academic network and connect you with the exact expertise your business needs.

Order a report on this topic More in Environment & Climate