The e-shape project is an initiative designed to deliver services for citizens, industry, decision-makers, and researchers. It builds on decades of public investment in Earth Observation and leverages modern cloud technologies. The project fosters the development and uptake of 27 cloud-based pilot applications aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework. These pilots are developed within the GEOSS ecosystem and make extensive use of Copernicus data and computing infrastructure.
The e-shape pilots will provide operational services on food security and sustainable agriculture, health (air pollutants), renewable energy, ecosystem monitoring, water resource management, disaster resilience, and climate monitoring.
e-shape was conceived following the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) push to establish regional clusters such as AmeriGEO (Americas), AfriGEO (Africa), and EuroGEOSS (Europe). It represents the EU’s contribution to GEO within the EuroGEOSS initiative.
Driven by user needs, the project advances operational Earth Observation services with and for users, while creating an enabling environment that capitalizes on Europe’s strengths to tackle societal challenges, stimulate entrepreneurship, and support sustainable development in line with GEO’s three priorities (SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework).
Through 27 carefully selected pilots spanning seven thematic areas—food security, health, renewable energy, biodiversity, water resources, disaster resilience, and climate—e-shape will deliver a comprehensive suite of EO services to EU citizens, researchers, businesses, and policymakers. The pilots emphasize scientific and technological excellence, address key societal needs, and build on results from previous projects to meet user requirements effectively. Researchers, SMEs, and companies developing EO-based services within these pilots will benefit from knowledge transfer, market access, and guidance to facilitate access to finance.
