Cyprus is entering the space era through the EXCELSIOR project.
According to a press release issued by the Cyprus University of Technology, the EXCELSIOR ‘ERATOSTHENES: (Excellence Research Centre for Earth SurveiLlance and Space-Based MonItoring Of the Environment’) Horizon 2020 Teaming Project Phase I was launched during a two-day kickoff event that was organized at the premises of the Cyprus University of Technology, in Limassol.
This Horizon 2020 project started officially, setting up the framework for a one-year close collaboration between the Cyprus University of Technology, acting as the coordinator, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), the National Observatory of Athens (NOA), the German Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works (MTCW) of the Republic of Cyprus, through its Department of Electronic Communications (DEC).
The EXCELSIOR project aims also at creating an inspiring environment for conducting basic and applied research and innovation in the areas of the integrated use of remote sensing and space-based techniques for monitoring the environment. Environment has been recognized by the Smart Specialization Strategy of Cyprus (S3Cy) as the first horizontal priority for future growth of the island.
The project with its expertise and infrastructure could be a hub for the Earth observation activities in the Eastern Mediterranean area, due to the key geostrategic position of Cyprus.
The EXCELSIOR teaming proposal was ranked 1st (attaining full marks 15/15, “Excellent”) on a pan-European scale, among 208 proposals submitted to Programme “Teaming for Excellence” Phase I, which is part of the European Union’s (EU) Horizon 2020 Framework for Research and Innovation.
