Once again, Portugal promotes the use of Copernicus data for ocean and coastal area

The Portuguese Space Agency – Portugal Space is once again looking for the best ideas for use of Copernicus data, facing the societal and environmental challenges of the day. With the launch of a new edition of the Portugal Space Atlantic Challenge, which has been re-named Portugal Space Copernicus Blue Challenge this year, the Portuguese Space Agency renews its focus on the ocean and coastal areas, promoting, for the second time, a prize in the international Copernicus Masters competition. 

This year, in collaboration with Indico Capital Partners, Instituto Pedro Nunes, AIR Centre, and the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), Portugal Space will award 10,000 euros to the oceanic and/or coastal application with the highest levels of technical excellence and market applicability. 

Portugal Space is also promoting the Copernicus Regional Prize Azores. The prize will be awarded to the application that makes the best use of data from the European Earth Observation service and is aimed at all sectors of activity. Technical and business components are among the evaluation criteria. The winning project will be entitled to training and networking opportunities. 

For Joan Alabart, manager of Industrial Relations and Projects of the Portuguese Space Agency, “the promotion of these awards, for the second consecutive time, shows Portugal Space’s commitment to stimulate national use of Earth observation data.” He says, “We cannot forget that the Copernicus program – by adopting a complete, free and open data policy – contributes to the growth of the Portuguese and international space ecosystem, facilitating the emergence of new space-related companies,” he adds. On the other hand, he stresses, “this is an essential tool to respond to many of the environmental, social and economic challenges we face today.”