Introduction of DotSPACE Foundation

The DotSPACE Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to fostering innovation, exploration, and creation using remote sensing technologies. Founded in 2016, the foundation brings together academia, industry, and government to drive economic and social development. DotSPACE’s activities focus on utilising Earth Observation (EO) data to address a variety of global challenges, such as public health, food security, smart cities, and sustainable agriculture.

Groundstation.SPACE, hosted by the DotSPACE Foundation, serves as a key platform for engaging end-users of satellite applications. It connects stakeholders across industries, providing access to remote sensing data, creating awareness about the value of new satellite applications, and facilitating knowledge exchange. The platform also offers critical feedback to policymakers regarding the innovation and valorisation of EO technologies.

DotSPACE’s work is integrated with two major regional clusters: Unmanned Valley, a remote sensing cluster, and the Space Cluster in Noordwijk, which have strong ties to agricultural and marine applications. These collaborations strengthen the foundation’s capacity to innovate and respond to market needs, particularly in sectors such as environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, and sustainable urban development.

Beyond regional engagement, DotSPACE is an active participant in several European-level partnerships and initiatives. These include the SPACE4GEO Large-scale Skills Partnership, promoted under the European Commission’s Pact for Skills, and the S3P Partnership for Space, both of which reflect the foundation’s commitment to building a skilled and competitive European space workforce. DotSPACE is also involved in multiple EU-funded projects focused on education and twin transition, bridging the digital and green transformation agendas through space-based technologies.

DotSPACE has signed the terms of reference and is currently working on the exact format of implementation of the LEIs (either integrated in existing initiatives or through new events), and is in talks with public actors for collaboration in the region. Further discussions with potential private sector partners are ongoing, strengthening public-private collaboration and increasing the initiative’s impact on participants.