Leading Space and Tech Companies Join New Initiative at GEO Week 2019
PRESS RELEASE
25 October 2019
Canberra, Australia
More than 50 representatives from companies such as Planet, Google, Amazon Web Services and e-GEOS will join GEO Week 2019 in Canberra next month.
Space and technology companies have been invited to participate in one of the world’s largest gatherings of Earth observation practitioners and policy makers as part of a new initiative championed by the Australian Government – the GEO Week 2019 Industry Track.
“As an international intergovernmental organisation, GEO focuses on increasing cooperation and coordination between its 108 Member governments and Participating Organisations,” said Australia’s Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Principal Stuart Minchin from Geoscience Australia.
“Rapid developments in technology have given us more Earth observation data and information than ever before and we know that we have only just started to unlock what is possible. The commercial sector has an important role to play in harnessing the full potential of Earth observations, including driving sustainable economic growth. As the hosts of GEO Week 2019, we have designed the Industry Track to break down the barriers between the public and commercial sectors to benefit Earth observation users.”
The development of the Industry Track has been led by the Australian Space Agency and supported by Australia’s national science agency – CSIRO, which will host an Earth Observation 2.0 workshop for startups and the small to medium and micro-sized enterprise (SMME) community.
“Earth observation from space has an untapped potential to grow Australia’s economy through applications such as improved infrastructure and agriculture monitoring, water management, rapid natural disaster identification, monitoring shipping routes and minerals detection. Earth observations is a National Civil Space Priority Area in the Australian Civil Space Strategy and the Australian Space Agency will work closely with the local space industry and international partners to support the growth and transformation of the national space economy,” said the Australian Space Agency’s Deputy Head, Anthony Murfett.
Industry Track partners, including FrontierSI, the Space Industry Association of Australia, Earth Observation Australia and the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute, will lead a number of a sessions throughout the week. Amazon Web Services, Thales, Microsoft and the ACT Government are sponsors for the Industry Track.
“We are excited to be part of the first ever Industry Track, which demonstrates that governments everywhere are recognising how critical businesses are to innovating, operationalising research and development, and growing economies,” said Frontier SI’s Projects and Strategy Manager, Eva Rodriguez Rodriguez.
“The Industry Track will bring together the data supply chain, covering capture, supply, and processing, but most importantly analysis, insight and use of Earth observations. All the ingredients needed to build future commercial and economic impact.”
The Industry Track will run from Tuesday, 5 November to Thursday, 7 November, parallel to the GEO Week 2019 Side Events and GEO-XVI Plenary. The Ministerial Summit will be held on Friday, 8 November.
A copy of the Industry Track programme is available online. Online registration for the Industry Track is now open for the commercial sector and costs $500 AUD.
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About the Group on Earth Observations:
The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is an intergovernmental partnership of 108 member governments, over 100+ participating organizations and associates committed to sharing open Earth observation data. Working with thousands of dedicated individuals, GEO envisions a future where decisions and actions are informed by coordinated, comprehensive and sustained Earth observations.
Information for media
Online registration for GEO Week 2019 media accreditation is now open. Accredited media will have access to a range of events and opportunities throughout GEO Week 2019, including the Industry Track.
Accredited media will automatically be subscribed to GEO Week 2019 media releases and updates. For more information about media accreditation, please visit GEO Week 2019 Media and Communications.
To request an interview or submit a media enquiry, please email media@geosec.org.
ENDS
GEO Secretariat contact:
Theadora Mills, Communications Officer
+41 76 7446773
tmills@geosec.org
Geoscience Australia contact:
Aliesha Lavers, Senior Communications Officer
+61 2 6249 9652
Aliesha.Lavers@ga.gov.au
