The contract requires the provision of highly specialised knowledge and technical assistance during the creation and development of the knowledge hub. With its more than 35 years of extensive expertise and worldwide experience in earth observation, geoinformation, the Copernicus Programme and related applications, GAF is an ideal partner in this regard. This, when combined with expertise in other thematic fields such as information and communications technology (ICT), digital innovation, entrepreneurship, digital governance, and digital ecosystem analyses and planning, will contribute to the development of the project, facilitate the EU’s partnership with other countries and promote stronger collaboration in the STI, space, and digital sectors.

The assignment involves conducting studies about the latest digital technologies and solutions, providing policy advice, organising policy dialogues, and contributing to strategy development and capacity building. Technical support will also be provided in knowledge management, policy dissemination, and overall project management and monitoring.

The project has been awarded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), following a competitive bidding process that considered technical merits as well as price. The project started in January 2023 and has a duration of 35 months. It is funded by the European Union under Contract Number INTPA/2022/EA-RP/0048.