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Ian Pearson - Centre of Earth Observation

I would like to add my personal welcome to you all at this inaugural meeting of the Centre for Earth Observation Instrumentation (CEOI) supported by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Natural Environment Research Council and industry. I am delighted to be here this afternoon and to say a few words and lend my support to the very important work of the Centre. I hope that over the next few minutes my comments and remarks will explain how I see the Centre contributing to the policy requirements of my department.

As you are aware, we live in a time of change, not least being the recent machinery of government changes and the establishment of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), bringing with it an important agenda, capitalising on the linkages between science and innovation. My staff and I are looking forward to an exciting and challenging new era in taking forward the departmental objectives.

DIUS will work closely with the new Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) which has already moved to join the BNSC Partnership. This close association will help to ensure that Innovation, Universities and Skills - the important areas that the new department is championing, are well integrated with the government's role in supporting the business agenda so that industry can take full advantage of DIUS initiatives. Activities such as the CEOI help to integrate science and industry.

Let me say a word or two about why I think that the CEOI will be such an asset to the UK - I hardly need tell you that space offers many exciting opportunities to both the scientific and the industrial communities. Each has strengths in many areas but by working together, through the Centre's activities, we can enhance and build UK expertise and capabilities. The CEOI can help to maintain and further develop UK space strengths. I am looking to the Centre to provide guidance and identify priorities in relation to environmental science measurements. With climate change the biggest challenge facing the world today, the Centre can play an important role and developing techniques and the supporting technology offers great opportunities for the UK.

The UK already plays a very significant role in ESA programmes especially through the Earth Observation Living Planet Programme supported by NERC. However, in order to win opportunities for the UK space community in future space missions we must focus our limited national resources and ensure that UK science priorities are pursued.

The BNSC partnership plays a vital role in ensuring that cross departmental civil space activities are fully represented nationally and internationally. The CEOI is in its initial phase supported by DIUS and NERC but I hope and expect that by demonstrating a successful CEOI programme and the value which it can bring to UK stakeholders, other BNSC partners will see the benefits and provide support which will grow the Centre's portfolio of activities.

In line with the Department's objectives, the Centre encourages the teaming of scientists and industrialists to identify and develop UK priorities in future space related instrumentation. Aided by the environmental science priorities in NERC's newly developed strategy 'Next Generation Science for Planet Earth 2007 - 2012' we are able to evaluate and prioritise scientific strengths in the UK.

I am delighted that such a high quality management team was selected, representing a strong cross section from the space industry, academia and research. Mick Johnson, from Astrium UK, as Director of the Centre, has, as I hope you will agree, done an excellent job in this early period, working with strong team members from QinetiQ, RAL and Leicester University.

This joined up approach is an excellent example of how the UK can develop and maintain industrial and scientific expertise aimed at winning and leading projects in ESA and the wider international community.

The Centre's vision is to develop a long-term strategy for Earth Observation technologies and instruments - a strategy, which will support and strengthen UK expertise and capabilities and position the UK well to win leading roles in future international programmes. In order to achieve this, a balanced and focussed programme of work has been developed and will, I understand, be the subject of accompanying presentations. It is good to see that the activities of the Centre not only contribute to the strategy of BNSC partners but are also central to the role of DIUS.

  • Innovation is at the heart of the projects supported in the open call for instrument developments which took place earlier this year;
  • Universities are reflected in the student sponsorships that will help to develop Earth Observation techniques and technologies for the future; and
  • Skills from maintaining the high scientific and industrial capabilities in the UK are an important element of the Centre's thinking.

A vital role for the Centre, and one which is a strong element in the work of DIUS, is knowledge exchange, - helping all members of the community to understand the needs of others. This gathering today is an example of where an exchange of views and perspectives help to bind science and industrial requirements together.

Whilst this programme is at an early stage in its development I look forward to the Centre delivering its objectives and hope that the advantages and benefits of this programme will be viewed positively by other organisations.

I wish the Centre, the programme and those involved every success for the future.