Space for urban innovation: a global approach to downstream sector

摘要

Space verticals have a key role to play in the smart city ecosystem as a technological enabler, at the core of cost-efficient business models. Sensors use and satellite connectivity are the pillars of the smart cities grid market (e.g. smart transport, energy grid, waste management, connected vehicles...). Modern navigation systems have a key role in the transport and mobility sector (e.g. real time transport information, urban traffic modelling, autonomous and intelligent vehicles...). Earth observation data open to a huge portfolio of business opportunities in several sectors (e.g. urban planning, climate changes challenges, sustainable urban agriculture, infrastructure and building business as well as disaster and security issues). The European Space Agency (ESA) has already a relevant position in the smart cities ecosystem with a portfolio of activities ongoing or planned in support. Considering the constant market growth both from a geographical and economic point of view ESA further reinforced its positioning in this sector through its Downstream Gateway.