News

Scope of the meeting:

• Provision of mutual insight amongst Actors in the various projects undertaken in the framework of the DUP.
• Discussion of problems of different nature (technical, logistical, political,etc..) that contractors have encountered.
• Identification of opportunities for co-operations not yet established.
• Verification of progress versus objectives of the DUP.
• Recommendations of ways forward for the part of the Programme, which lies ahead.

Participation:

• Representative(s) from the projects (notably prime contractors).
• Representative(s) from (some) partner companies.
• The DUP Advisory Committee.
• Representative from FAO
• ESA project specialists.

Indications:

• The coherent presentations of the various projects, as well as the related discussions were found helpful by both contractors and delegates.
• Contractors find the close co-operation with ESA specialists very fruitful (e.g. application of techniques).
• Concern raised regarding sustenance of applications demonstrated in developing countries.
• Most of the projects have institutional entities as potential end users.
• The DUP is a useful vehicle for establishment of contacts and discussions with potential end users.
• The DUP Actors state unanimously that the programme should continue beyond the 1st phase.
• Subsidising is needed to develop market-oriented products.
• Transition to operational commercial service is a gradual process, and the closer to its achievement the less support should be provided by ESA or National programmes.
• Value adding companies also want to be the service providers.
• Synergy between projects is so far rare, whereas co-operation amongst DUP Actors across Participating States is a pronounced feature of the programme.

Conclusions:

• The overall goals of the workshop were achieved.
• The distance from pilot project demonstrations to robust operational end products is vast - and should not be under-estimated.
• The strategy set out by the DUP Advisory Committee to follow through on projects already started is valid
• Additional efforts needed to secure projects in developing countries.
• A 2nd DUP Actors’ Workshop is scheduled for September 1999 - possibly with extended participation.