The inaugural EUSATfinder Advisory Board (AB#1) has been held in Île-Rousse, Corsica, on July 1st, 2025. The meeting was dedicated to exploring the needs and real-life experiences of first responders during operations, emergencies and crisis situations management bringing together final users and stakeholders from the space technology sector bringing experiences on the use of European technologies, with focus on GOVSATCOM, Copernicus, and Galileo. 

Four sessions were scheduled providing (1) the general technological and operational scenario, (2) user needs’ identifications in diƯerent scenarios and the presentation of on-going solutions (3) with dedicated focus on EUSATfinder (4) objectives and value proposition. Important feedback was real-time collected by means of a dedicated questionnaire covering current and expected to come technologies. Important indications were collected also for EUSATfinder solution positioning in the market. The meeting provided the basis to have a common understanding of the current users, capabilities and served to engage potential users based on their identified needs which mainly include as an overall summary: 

(1) the seamless integration of secure satellite communications services to exchange critical and sensitive information, and to accelerate EO data sharing;

(2) The merging of satellite and drone imagery to monitor crises and disasters, together with in-situ data provided by users;

(3) The usage of dedicated tools to exchange and process information in real-time with teams deployed in the field.

Agenda

09.00-09.20  Welcome speech – Objectives of the meeting 

• EUSATfinder AB#1 chair, Dr. Pat Botey

• EU partnership department of Corsica, Dr. Claire-Cecile CARLOTTI

• EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), Dr. Vasileios KALOGIROU

• EUSATfinder context, Ing. Marco NISI

09.20-10.45  User needs in different operational contexts

• Regione Autonoma Valle D’Aosta, Ing. Patrick THUEGAZ

• Unité d’instruction et d’intervention de la sécurité civile française #5, Colonel Stéphane DRENNE

• Service départemental d’incendie et de secours, Colonel Jean Jacques CASALOT, Lieutenant colonel Marien SETTI

• Comando dei Vigili del Fuoco di Roma, Ing. Biancamaria CRISTINI dirigente vicario Comando dei vigili del fuoco di Roma, Ing. Francesca AUTIERO funzionario direttivo, VC Daniele MALAPPIONI Comando dei vigili del fuoco di Roma, Ing. Francesco BIASCI funzionario direttivo Direzione centrale per l'emergenza, il soccorso tecnico e l'AIB, CS Stefano FRITTELLI Direzione centrale per l'emergenza

• Pôle nouvelles technologies de Valabre, Colonel Philippe MERESSE chef du Pôle Nouvelles technologies

• Civil Protection Centre of the University of Firenze (CPC-UNFI), Pr. Federico RASPINI

10.45-11.30  Example of past and on-going projects 

• Université Corte Pascal Paoli projet FEU, Pr Toussaint BARBONI

• GTER, I-EM platform, Ing. Tiziano COSSO

• MIDGARD, Dr. Anne Sophie CADRE

• European Union Satellite Center (SATCEN), Dr. Paula SAAMENO

- Coffe Break –

11.45-13.30  EUSATfinder value proposition

• Integrated SATCOM and terrestrial network, Dr Benedetto MOLINARI, Dr. Jerome MOUEZA, Dr. Bruno RAKOTO, Dr. Markus WERNER

• Fleet of drones supported by Galileo OSNMA, Dr. Julien METGE, Dr. Gianluca LUISI

• Copernicus services, Pr. Federico RASPINI

• Security aspects Ing. Andrea di DONATO, Ing. Giovanni RUSSO

• Market insight and business perspective Dr. Ivan VRDOLJAK

• Wrap-Up and next steps Ing. Marco NISI, Ing. Renzo CARLUCCI

- Lunch and Networking -

Inscription form: https://forms.gle/FuyuggE8c1Ck5zWf9

Address: 1 Av. David Dary, 20220 L'Île-Rousse, Francia (click on link for google maps position)

Time: 1 July 2025, 09:00-18:00

Founded in 1758 by Pascal Paoli, L'Île-Rousse is one of the few Corsican towns to have been built from scratch, with a strong political and economic vision. Nicknamed the "Pauline City," it was created to free Balagne from Genoese domination and provide a free port for the Corsicans. Its strategic location, bordered by red porphyry islets, quickly made it a prosperous commercial center, competing with the neighboring port of Calvi, which remained loyal to the Genoese. L'Île-Rousse opens onto the sea with a beach in the town center, which contributes to its unique charm. The town developed around Place Pascal Paoli, a true beating heart where culture, religion, and commerce mingle.