Filipino, Thai, and Indonesian partners are joining forces with the European Union (EU) and the European Space Agency (ESA) through SCOPE DIGITAL, a new initiative to strengthen the use of Copernicus earth observation data in Southeast Asia.
The program supports the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and builds on the CopPhil collaboration, which has expanded the practical use of Copernicus data in the Philippines. SCOPE DIGITAL builds on the success of the Copernicus program in the Philippines, home to Southeast Asia’s first earth observation (EO) data center, established in 2024.
Over the next three years, the program will draw on both European and Southeast Asian expertise in space data, digital platforms, and capacity building. It will support joint pilot projects and demonstrations, training activities, and the development of digital infrastructures that promote data-driven policymaking and cross-border collaboration in the region.
The initiative will also help develop EO-based solutions for disaster resilience, natural resource management, and sustainable development in Southeast Asia.
Its first phase will be implemented in Indonesia and Thailand, with technical support from the Philippines, which hosts the regional Copernicus data center.
SCOPE DIGITAL is implemented by the European Space Agency (ESA) in partnership with the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA).
As the regional anchor partner, PhilSA will provide technical leadership, data infrastructure, and operational best practices drawn from its national Copernicus experience. It will also facilitate knowledge exchange, coordinate regional activities, and lead capacity-building efforts among ASEAN partners.
SCOPE DIGITAL was officially launched on November 17 at the 31st Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-31) in Cebu. The event brought together space agencies, government representatives, and development partners to explore how EO and digital innovation can advance sustainability and resilience across Southeast Asia.
