About the EC-ESA joint Earth System Science Initiative

A European Commission (Directorate-General Research and Innovation) & ESA (Earth Observation) collaboration driving excellence in science for a thriving planet.

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Understanding our planet to secure our future

The Earth System Science Initiative (ESSI) is a strategic collaboration between the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) and the European Space Agency (ESA) to collaboratively advance scientific research to address the critical environmental and societal challenges of our time.

ESSI aims at bringing together scientists across disciplines to jointly respond to these challenges guided by the European Union Priorities 2024-2029, as well as by leveraging Europe’s space ambitions and future developments outlined in the ESA EO Science Strategy 2024.

Science for society’s greatest challenges

ESSI is based on an strong programmatic collaboration aimed at strategically aligning selected scientific activities under EU’s Horizon Europe and ESA’s FutureEO programmes, in terms of goals, content and planning.

ESSI has become Europe’s largest coordinated research effort in Earth System Science, delivering measurable impact since its launch in 2020: 

  • Connecting over 70 cutting-edge projects across Horizon Europe and FutureEO
  • Strengthening the full knowledge chain from field research and satellite observations to modelling, prediction, assessment and policy uptake
  • Fostering European leadership in global Earth System Science, contributing to processes such as the UNFCCC, CBD, GEO, IPCC, IPBES

ESSI’s foundational pillars

The EC and ESA are cooperating based on four main pillars

1

Strong EC-ESA programmatic alignment addressing a set of common scientific priorities, the Flagship Actions. 

2

Continuous, coordinated and complementary opportunities for scientific collaboration in the form of dedicated Horizon Europe calls and ESA Invitations to Tender.

3

Collaborative and joint research where EC- and ESA-funded projects join forces through scientific alliances to address shared scientific challenges. 

4

A strong networking effort bringing together communities from different disciplines, backgrounds and expertise to work together in a structured way, sharing observations, models, knowledge and results.

ESSI — Earth System Science Initiative

Alliances & results explorer

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Engage with us

European Space Agency

Co-shapes ESSI by bringing Earth observation science, mission and technical expertise and supporting complementary activities with European science and industry.
Tender portal

European Commission

Co-shapes ESSI by connecting Earth system science to EU policy priorities and supporting research and innovation activities through Horizon Europe.
Tender portal

Relevant links

EO4SOCIETY - EO science for society European Climate Pact - European Union

Relevant documents

Joint EC DG-RTD/ESA Earth System Science Initiative definition Earth System Science Initiative brochure Environmental observations and the ESA-EC Earth System Science Initiative ESA Earth Observation Science Strategy