Greetings GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) The Bavarian state government has made significant is the second flagship of European space policy along- contributions in the past to this European joint project side Galileo. With the largest concentration of aviation and will continue its involvement also in the future. In and aerospace activities in Germany, Bavaria obviously addition to investments in infrastructure for earth obhas a strong interest in this joint project of the Euro- servation facilities, Bavaria is making available financpean Union and ESA. Bavaria has outstanding compe- ing for innovative projects in the GMES context. By tence not only in satellite technology, but also in fields means of a specific financial support program, especialparticularly relevant for GMES, such as the reception, ly medium-sized companies are to be put in a position processing, archiving and utilization of earth observa- to develop in good time innovative products and sertion data. Bavarian universities and research institutes vices so that they can offer to GMES valuable improveare already involved in the GMES project in a variety ments and services. of ways. And Bavarian companies, particularly from This brochure conveys a concise overview of the the IT, geoinformation, and other geo domains are also range of expertise inherent in Bavarian companies and participating significantly in the development and ap- research institutions. I am grateful to the GMES office plication of GMES services. In association with relevant of the Cluster Platform bavAIRia for directing the highly research institutions they are already today involved in competent editorial team, which is composed of representatives of the Bavarian “GMES actors” and I hope eight of ESA’s ten GMES services. that all readers will find interesting new information in the following pages.
Martin Zeil, Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs , Infrastructure, Transport and Technology
Monitoring for Environment and Security – Bavarian Competence for GMES
GMES is a space-based system which uses satellites to observe the environment and natural phenomena occurring on the planet. Satellites are connected with terrestrial, maritime and atmosphere networks of in situ dedicated measuring instruments. Data gathered and relayed by GMES help us to enhance public safety by providing early warning and real time data on natural disasters such as forest fires or floods so they can be tackled efficiently and harm prevented to the population. GMES also helps us to improve the management of earth resources and the monitoring of our marine and air environment. It also has commercial applications; for example, observing ocean streams can help our commercial fleet find the most competitive routes. Initially developed as a scientific project ten years ago, GMES needs to evolve into a fully mature operational stage. This evolution has three requirements: a specific and sustainable operational funding program, a robust governance structure and relevant data policies and legislation.
GMES infrastructures are owned either by European or national entities with their respective political and financial responsibilities. As the March 2008 European Council acknowledged, decision makers and business operators rely on information on environment and security, which is of strategic value for them. GMES is clearly a system driven by public demand, and the data it provides is a public good. A return of investment can be expected through the creation of a large downstream service industry, which will flourish provided a steady state is attained with the availability of GMES data on a sustainable basis. This brochure describes the key role that companies located in Bavaria, as well as Bavarian institutes and institutions, play in this domain.
Paul Weissenberg, Director for Aerospace, GMES, Security and Defence, European Commission Brussels
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