Hesham El-Askary, Ph.D., announces more details on the project GEO-CRADLE: Coordinating and integRating state-of-the-art Earth Observation Activities in the regions of North Africa, Middle East, and Balkans and Developing Links with GEO related initiatives towards GEOSS. The GEO-CRADLE consortium is led by the National Observatory of Athens as the Project Coordinator. The consortium comprises of 18 other regional institutions as partners, namely, Balkan Environment Center (sub-regional coordinator), Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (sub-regional coordinator), Centre D'etudes Et De Recherches Detelecommunications, Tel Aviv University, Cyprus University of Technology, Turkiye Bilimsel Ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu, Space Research and Technology Institute, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Instituti Per Ruajtjen E Natyres Shqiptare ShoQata, Institut Za Fiziku, Centro Internazionale in Monitoraggio Ambientale -- Fondazione (CIMA), Idryma Iatroviologikon Ereunon Akademias Athinon, Inosens Doo Novi Sad, European Association of Remote Sensing Companies (EURISY), EuroGeoSurveys -- (EGS), Schweizerisches Forschungsinstitut Fuer Hochgebirgsklima Und Medizin in Davos, and collaborative institutions located at the Region of Interest (RoI).
GEO-CRADLE brings together key players representing the whole (Balkans, N. Africa and M. East), the RoI, and the complete EO value chain with the overarching objective of establishing a multi-regional coordination network that will (i) support the effective integration of existing EO capacities, modelling and data exploitation skills, and past project experience, (ii) provide the interface for the engagement of the complete ecosystem of EO stakeholders, (iii) promote the concrete uptake of EO services and data in response to regional needs, relevant to climate change, improved food security, access to raw materials and energy, and (iv) contribute to the improved implementation of and participation in GEO, GEOSS, and Copernicus in the RoI.
GEO-CRADLE lays out an action plan that allows to define the region specific (G)EO Maturity Indicators and common priority needs. Through showcasing pilots, it demonstrates how the priorities can be tackled by the GEO-CRADLE Network, and provides the roadmap for the future implementation of GEOSS and Copernicus in the region, building on the so-called GEO-CRADLE Regional Data Hub, which abides by the GEOSS Data Sharing Principles. To maximize the impact of GEO-CRADLE activities, well-defined Communication, Dissemination and Stakeholder Engagement strategies will be implemented. For efficient project coordination, the project management is assisted by the active liaison with EC, GEO and UN initiatives, and a regional coordination structure. To receive more information about the GEO-CRADLE project, and until the official website of the project is ready, the interested persons may contact the Project Coordinator through email: kontoes@noa.gr.
Dr. El-Askary will assist the GEO-CRADLE project coordinator Dr. Charalampos (Haris) KONTOES, research director of NOA and the Project Management Board for the smooth implementation and management of the project at sub-regional level. Together with his colleagues will focus on assessing the earth observation related research and existing capacities in the support of GEO,GEOSS, and Copernicus in the RoI in order to serve the thematic areas of the GEO-CRADLE, namely climate change, improved food security, access to raw materials, and energy.
In his role, Dr. El-Askary and his colleagues will support the project implementation for North Africa and the Middle East working together with the GEO-CRADLE partners and collaborating institutions in Europe, North Africa and the Gulf nations, with more than 200 individuals.
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GEO-CRADLE Coordination and Support Action funded under:
H2020 Framework Program-Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials
ACTIVITY:
Developing Comprehensive and Sustained Global Environmental Observation and Information Systems
CALL IDENTIFIER:
H2020 SC5-18b-2015 Integrating North African, Middle East and Balkan Earth Observation capacities in GEOSS
Project GA number: 690133
Total Budget: 2,910,800.00 €
Duration: 30 months, starting from Feb. 1st , 2016
Contracting Authority: EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) H2020 Environment & Resources
EC Project Officers: Ms Gaëlle LE BOULER and Ms Malgorzata ROGIVAL
Overall Project Coordinator: NATIONAL OBSERVATORY OF ATHENS, Dr. Haris KONTOES