Limassol is set to host a new European hub for Earth observation, with a €38 million project that will deploy cutting-edge technology and scientific expertise to monitor climate change, natural disasters and environmental sustainability in Europe and beyond.
What is being built and who leads it
The Cyprus University of Technology will open a state-of-the-art centre for Earth observation and geospatial information, leading the initiative from Limassol. The scientific site, named after Eratosthenes, upgrades a remote sensing and geoenvironmental laboratory first launched by the university in 2007 and now expanded to cover the full spectrum of Earth observation, from extreme weather and agriculture to disaster response. The centre will deliver services that support decision making for European agencies, local authorities and businesses.
How it is funded and who is involved
The project is part of the Horizon Europe EXCELSIOR programme, which received €15 million in EU funding. The Cypriot government matched the EU contribution, while Tepak added €8 million. Alongside Tepak’s Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, Cypriot participation includes the Department of Electronic Communications of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy. European partners include the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, the German Aerospace Center and the National Observatory of Athens, with affiliated entities CyRIC and Switzerland’s Physical Meteorological Observatory Davos.
Why Limassol and why now
Cyprus’s location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa makes it an ideal platform for Earth observation across regions that share climate, security and environmental challenges. The centre’s mission is to translate scientific excellence into services that strengthen resilience and sustainable development at home and internationally. As Professor Diofantos Hadjimitsis put it, the aim is to build a home for excellence that brings real value to people and communities.
The technology on the ground
Among the flagship assets is a €3.9 million satellite antenna that provides real-time access to satellite data, including high resolution imagery used to monitor maritime activity, track wildfires, respond to floods and protect coastlines. The site also hosts Cyprus’s most advanced atmospheric observation station, supplying measurements that inform air quality management and climate analysis with direct implications for public health and agriculture.
More than 120 people already work at the centre, combining Cypriot expertise with researchers from across Europe and beyond. The project is designed to create high skilled jobs, open career paths for young scientists and deepen collaborations with global institutions.
EXCELSIOR has created a national platform for multidimensional data that makes satellite imagery accessible and usable for Cyprus’s policy priorities. Scientists can track environmental trends and land changes, while authorities can plan urban development and manage natural resources with better evidence.
What happens next
Tepak’s Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence and the EXCELSIOR project will be showcased in the upcoming Science4EU campaign, a Europe wide initiative promoting research that improves citizens’ lives. The centre will also indicate its subscriptions to ESA optional programmes at the next ministerial council, aligning its capabilities with European priorities for climate, security and innovation.
Source: Innovation News Network