Bridging the last-mile gap to policy needs

Despite significant investments in the European Union (EU) Space Programme through flagship initiatives like Copernicus, a persistent "last-mile" gap remains between raw Earth Observation (EO) data and the specific operational requirements of policymakers. Current EO products often lack the standardization, customization, and validation required to monitor compliance, assess risks, and fulfill legal mandates, such as urban green space monitoring under the Nature Restoration Regulation. To bridge this disconnect, this proposal advocates establishing a dedicated EU Earth Observation science service working in close coordination with the Knowledge Centre on Earth Observation (KCEO). Utilizing an inverse value chain approach, the KCEO translates policy needs into concrete technical specifications. The proposed EO science service then mobilizes an interdisciplinary competence network, leveraging existing R&I frameworks (e.g., Horizon Europe, EuroGEO), to prototype tailored applications. Through a four-stage iterative workflow encompassing needs assessment, prototyping, rigorous evaluation, and operational scaling, this initiative facilitates a seamless transition from research to operations (R2O). Ultimately, the science service would ensure long-term sustainability, drive downstream commercialization, and empower evidence-based decision-making across EU policy domains.

VALLEJO ORTI Miguel;  LAHSAINI Meriam;  VANCUTSEM Christelle;  JEAN Dussart;  DOWELL Mark; 

BERTOGLIO Camilla; 

2026-08-20

European Commission

JRC147680

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC147680,