New Earth observation business opportunities - details


4 May 2001
 
To continue the success obtained in the use of Earth observation data from the ERS missions, ESA is initiating a series of activities to strengthen the European industry’s use of data from its new Earth observation satellite, ENVISAT.
 
The opportunities will be started by open Invitation to Tenders for:

  • Development of open-source software toolboxes for operating the ENVISAT Earth observation data. The toolboxes will provide a standard for supporting users in the visualisation, analysis and manipulation of ENVISAT data products produced by ESA ground systems. Two Invitations to Tender are planned.
  • Earth observation application development was initiated under the Date Utilisation Program (DUP) Phase 1. ESA has now approved the continuation of this under DUP Phase 2. A series of Invitations to Tender are in the pipeline.
  • In a new initiative, the market development of business opportunities of European Industry is part of the Earth Observation Envelope Programme (EOEP). This activity started during 2000 with 16 short-term projects and three long-term projects. Another 11 short-term and five long-term projects will be initiated in this next round of Invitations to Tender.
  • In preparing for the future, a series of activities are to be initiated under the ESA General Study Program (GSP) to analyse and prepare the strategy and programmatic aspects for future Earth observation. This includes research and development activities often performed in collaboration with European universities, research entities and industry. Invitation to Tender will be issued for studies on Treaty Enforcement Services using Earth Observation (TESEO) in four different areas of research and development.

ESA has performed a series of briefings to present these business opportunities to European companies in Belgium, Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands. The latest briefing for industry, held at ESRIN on 2 March 2001, attracted a high degree of interest and was attended by more than 80 participants.
 
 
 Contracts overview
  
ESA is preparing the following Invitations to Tender during the coming months:
  
 
 Near-term Schedule
  
EO Area Contracts Upper Limit ITT Release
ENVISAT
Tool Box		 1 contract: ENVISAT
Imaging Instrument User Tool
Duration: 12 months		 300 000 Euro Open competitive tender
Issue: May 2001
ENVISAT
Tool Box		 1 contract: ENVISAT
Atmospheric User Tool
Duration: 12 months		 300 000 Euro Open competitive tender
Issue: June 2001
DUP
Phase 2		 14 contracts for the DUP-2 first call for proposal Total
2.5 million Euro for 14 contracts 		1 open competitive tender to initiate
14 contracts
Issue: May 2001
EOEP Market Development 6 additional Short-Term contracts in response to Call of Year-2000
Maximum duration:
1 Year		 Maximum
100 000 Euro each 		RFQs early March 2001 based upon Year-2000 proposals and selection
EOEP Market Development 5 new Short-Term contracts
Maximum duration:
1 Year 		Maximum
100 000 Euro each 		1 open competitive tender to initiate
5 contracts
Issue: June 2001
EOEP Market Development 3 new Long-Term contracts
Maximum duration:
3 Years		 Maximum
750 000 Euro each		 1 open competitive tender to initiate
3 contracts
Issue: June 2001
EOEP Market Development 2 new Long-Term contracts engaging new players
Maximum duration:
3 Years		 Maximum
750 000 Euro each		 1 open competitive tender to initiate
2 contracts
Issue: July 2001
R&D General Studies
Programme
for TESEO		 4 contracts for wetlands, carbon, desertification and marine pollution
Duration: 15 months 		250 000 Euro each One open competitive tender to initiate
4 contracts
Issue: April 2001 with proposal submission
20 May 2001
R&D General Studies Programme 1 contract: study on application of SAR polarimetry
Duration: 12 months		 200 000 Euro Open competitive tender
Issue: May 2001

 
 
 Abbreviations:

  • EO - Earth Observation
  • EOEP - Earth Observation Envelope Programme
  • TESEO - Treaty Enforcement Services using Earth Observation.

In addition to the above there will be additional contracts under the DUP Phase 2 programme, with participation to date from four countries: Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Over the coming three years an estimated 20 contracts will be initiated for a total value of 7 million Euro.

Complete details with exact issuing schedule on ITTs and intended ITTs can be obtained from the ESA Electronic Mail Invitation to Tender System (EMITS) which include the latest updates.
  
 

Related news

 •  Earth observation business opportunities for European and Canadian industry (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/ESAE1RGBCLC_Benefits_0.html)
 •  Contracts signed for the distribution of Earth observation data (http://www.esa.int/esaEO/GGGWU40UGEC_index_0.html)
 •  About Earth Observation (http://www.esa.int/esaEO/GGGIMV7RVDC_index_0.html)
 •  ERS 1 and 2 (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/GGGWBR8RVDC_Benefits_0.html)

Related links

 •  Earth Observation Homepage (http://earth.esa.int/)
 •  Envisat Homepage (http://envisat.esa.int)
 •  ERS homepage (http://earth.esa.int/ers)
 •  EO Principal Investigator Portal (http://eopi.esa.int/)
 •  Data User Element (http://due.esrin.esa.int/)
 •  ESA Earth Observation Envelope Programme - Market Development (http://earth1.esrin.esa.it/eoep-market/)
 •  General Studies Programme (http://www.esa.int/gsp/)
 •  ESA Industry Portal (http://www.esa.int/industry)
 •  Electronic Mail Invitation to Tender System (EMITS) (http://emits.esa.int)