A €38m European project is set to put Cyprus on the map as the new hub for Earth observation by driving cutting-edge technology and scientific expertise.
The project, based in Limassol, will use Earth observation to monitor climate change, natural disasters, and environmental sustainability in Europe and beyond.
As part of the project, a state-of-the-art centre for Earth observation and geospatial information will be opened by the Cyprus University of Technology (Tepak), the institution leading the initiative.
New centre is a major upgrade for Earth observation technologies
The new scientific site, named after Eratosthenes, an ancient Greek mathematician and geographer, represents a major upgrade of a remote-sensing and geoenvironmental laboratory that the university began operating in 2007.
It covers all areas of Earth observation, including extreme weather and agriculture, and natural disasters. At the same time, the centre develops services to support decision-making by European governmental agencies, local authorities, and businesses.
International collaboration pushes the project forward
The EU contributed €15m to the Earth observation project through its Horizon Europe research programme EXCELSIOR, which is due to wrap up at the end of 2027 after more than eight years.
The Cypriot government matched the EU funding, and Tepak provided €8m.
The emergence of Cyprus as a hub for Earth observation and geospatial information under EXCELSIOR has been made possible thanks to collaboration with project partners from around Europe, highlighting the value of the kind of international cooperation that is a fundamental feature of EU-funded research.
In addition to Tepak’s Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, the project’s participants in the country include the Cypriot government through the Department of Electronic Communications of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy.
The participants abroad include the Germany-based Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and the Greece-based National Observatory of Athens.
In addition, the project has two affiliated entities: the Cyprus Research and Innovation Center (CyRIC) and Switzerland’s Physical Meteorological Observatory Davos (PMOD).
Cyprus as a leading hub for Earth observation
Cyprus is an ideal location to advance Earth observation capabilities because of its central location at the borders of three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Professor Diofantos Hadjimitsis from Tepak’s Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics explained: “We have created a home for scientific excellence, one that brings real value to our country and people and promotes resilient societies and sustainable development internationally.”
Among the centre’s leading technologies is a €3.9m satellite antenna that gives Cyprus real-time access to any satellite data, including high-resolution images that help monitor maritime activity, track wildfires, respond to floods, and protect coastlines.
It also features Cyprus’s most advanced atmospheric observation station, which provides crucial insights into air quality and climate conditions that affect both human health and agriculture.
Career opportunities for young scientists
The new centre brings world-class advances in Earth observation to Cyprus by creating high-skilled jobs, career opportunities for young scientists, and partnerships with global institutions.
More than 120 people work at the centre, including Cypriot experts and graduates along with researchers from Europe and elsewhere, resulting in a vibrant multicultural setting where scientific excellence thrives.
Promoting the centre’s research across Europe
Overall, the EXCELSIOR project has given rise to a national platform for multidimensional data that makes satellite imagery accessible and usable in ways that support Cypriot policy priorities.
Scientists and researchers are in a position to analyse environmental trends and changes in land surfaces, while governmental agencies and policymakers can monitor natural resources and plan urban development in Cyprus.
In the coming months, EXCELSIOR and the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence of Tepak will be featured in a European campaign to promote research excellence across the continent.
The campaign, known as Science4EU, will demonstrate how the EU supports scientists, researchers, and innovators in pushing the boundaries of knowledge to improve citizens’ lives.
