Belgium started its first national remote sensing research programme as early as 1985. That programme, TELSAT 1, aimed at creating a national remote sensing research capacity and exploring the possibilities of SPOT imagery for agriculture, forestry and cartography. Throughout the years and through a range of follow-up programmes, the aim was broadened to the development of applications, interaction with users, transfer of knowledge to industry and public administrations, international visibility of research results and training and education.
The current programme, STEREO III, finances research projects carried out by research laboratories, either on their own or as part of a network and focused on one or more priority themes. These are in line with the research axes of the European Commission:
In addition, the STEREO programme has been offering offer high quality user support and promotes remote sensing and Belgian initiatives in the field of Earth observation.
The programme supports the research community as a whole, via the centralised acquisition of remote sensing imagery and the establishment of cal/val research sites and a range of networking opportunities.
To promote Remote Sensing and Belgian commitment in Earth Observation and to facilitate the outreach of the research results, the STEREO team:
Joost Vandenabeele
Space Research & Applications
Jean-Christophe Schyns
Space Research & Applications