The EU’s Earth-observation satellite programme Copernicus will generate economic benefits worth at least twice its costs between 2008 and 2020, according to an auditor’s report.
Copernicus will cost about €8.2 billion during this period, but will generate benefits of between €16.2 and €21.3bn, according to the report published on 18 February. The analysis was prepared by auditors PwC France.
Example impacts of the programme include better management of agricultural resources, efficiencies in shipping and improved tracking of, and response to, natural disasters. Copernicus also supports more than 17,000 jobs, the report said.