Copernicus Programme
Evaluation
A project for the
.about
The European space programme, Copernicus, is a world-leading satellite-based Earth Observation (EO) system. Copernicus provides world-leading satellite data that underpins science, innovation, public services, and responses to global challenges such as climate change. The UK re-joined Copernicus in January 2024. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has now commissioned an independent evaluation to assess the impact and value of the UK’s participation.
The core aims of the Copernicus Evaluation are to:
Assess Value for Money: Understand whether the UK’s financial contribution delivers sufficient returns in terms of contracts, innovation, and societal benefits.
Measure impact: evaluate the opportunities and growth generated for the UK’s Earth Observation and wider space sector.
Evaluate Public Service benefits: examine how Copernicus data strengthens UK capabilities in climate science, resilience, and delivery of essential public services.
Analyse influence and collaboration: explore the extent of the UK’s influence within Copernicus, and how collaboration with international partners drives innovation
.partnership
know.space are leading a consortium to deliver an evaluation of the UK’s participation in Copernicus, together with our partners at Frontier Economics and TerraWatch Space. Our consortium also contains several expert advisers, bringing leading UK and European perspectives from government, academia and industry.
.methodology
Our methodology is based on a mixed-methods approach, combining primary and secondary research. The primary research uses a combination of interviews, surveys, and focus groups to gather evidence, while the secondary research uses desk-based research of key documentation and secondary data, including business and investment intelligence platforms and datasets. The evaluation methodology itself harnesses theory-based evaluation and quasi-experimental methods to provide credible and actionable analysis to decision-makers.