Seven-year Earth observation partnership concludes with event in Brussels

On 1 October 2025, DG DEFIS and German Aerospace Centre DLR co-hosted an event in Brussels to mark the coming to an end of a seven-year partnership. Participants from across Europe shared their experiences of some of the more than 220 actions undertaken in support of the uptake of data and services from Copernicus, the flagship Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space Programme.

Started in 2018, the Caroline Herschel Framework Partnership Agreement (also known as the Framework Partnership Agreement for Copernicus User Uptake, or FPCUP)—named so after the famous astronomer active in the 18^th and 19^th centuries—was a bottom-up initiative involving 50 partners from 23 European countries with co-funding from the European Commission to enhance national user uptake of Copernicus. This objective was realised through the promotion of opportunities provided by Copernicus data and services, the building of active networks and communities, and the development and implementation of new services and applications based on its Earth observation data.

Under the overall management of DG DEFIS and the coordination of DLR, actions were initiated by partners based on their experience and knowledge of end-user priorities and preferences, covering a range of different areas, from environmental monitoring and water management to disaster response and educational programmes.

In his closing remarks, Mr Mauro Facchini, Head of the Copernicus Unit at DG DEFIS, highlighted the many achievements and positive spin-off effects of the partnership, including the creation of strong networks and communities of practice across Europe. He also noted, as seen from space through Copernicus data, the Union appears without internal borders—visually mirroring the cross-border nature of this collaboration.

Mr Jens Danzeglocke, Earth Observation Focal Point with DLR, in his closing remarks emphasized the importance of continuing to put Copernicus data and services to the full use and benefit of all Europeans.

To help capture and catalogue the lessons learned from the past seven years, DLR—with input from DG DEFIS and critical contributions from participating partners with hands-on experience from Copernicus user uptake—has developed a publication dedicated to FPCUP, which was provided to those attending the event. This publication (Framework Partnership Agreement for Copernicus User Uptake: Highlights and Achievements) will be made available on the forthcoming EU Space Programme website. This new website will also feature content from FPCUP’s site, which will be closed at the end of 2025.

The recording of the webcast of the concluding FPCUP event is available here.