Demand for sovereign systems extends to the Earth-observation stack
Summary
At the World Economic Forum, discussions highlighted the role of middle powers in global affairs. Meanwhile, at the SmallSat Symposium, Earth-observation companies noted a growing demand for sovereign systems among these nations, reflecting their evolving influence.
Key Insights
What is Earth observation?
Earth observation (EO) is the gathering of information about the Earth's surface, waters, atmosphere, and physical, chemical, and biological systems using remote sensing from satellites, airborne platforms, or ground-based sensors to monitor environmental changes and support applications like agriculture, climate monitoring, and disaster response.
What are sovereign systems in the context of Earth observation?
Sovereign Earth observation systems refer to national governments developing their own independent satellite programs and infrastructure to gather EO data, driven by national security, geopolitical independence, and the need to monitor domestic assets like climate and borders without relying on foreign data sources.