Scientific cooperation agreement with South Africa's Space Agency
The JRC has signed today a collaboration agreement with the South Africa's National Space Agency (SANSA) aiming to better exploit remote sensing technologies for monitoring atmospheric, terrestrial and marine environments. This agreement follows the recent visit of Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Commissioner for research, innovation and science to South Africa.
The scope of this agreement is to work together on a better understanding of dynamics and evolution of our natural environment through optimal exploitation of Earth observation data and to develop technologies and services which support not only national policies (e.g. agriculture monitoring) but also international issues and policies for disaster risk reduction, early warning and emergency management.
The signature took place in the context of a high level meeting on scientific collaboration to improve disaster anticipation and resilience organised at the initiative of the Commissioner and attended by senior officials of the European Commission, the Carnegie group countries (G8+5), the World Bank and United Nations.
The JRC has a recognised experience and unique tools and installations which contribute to disaster resilience and in particular prevention, anticipation, and response which are outlined in Memo: "Science for disaster risk reduction and response: Role of the Commission's in-house science service."