Britain’s role in EU Earth observation projects ‘won’t go back to how it was’

Future collaboration with EU on Copernicus projects affected by launch of UK alternatives

British researchers’ participation in EU Earth observation projects “won’t go back to how it was” even if the UK rejoins the Copernicus programme, according to scientists.

The multi-billion Euro programme provides open-access data via a network of over 30 satellites. UK researchers have been involved in the initiative as service providers and users, while British companies picked up lucrative EU contracts to work on the programme. Along with Horizon Europe and Euratom, it is one of several high-profile research schemes that UK scientists had close ties with, but are currently excluded from due to a post-Brexit row with the EU.