European Space Agency signs up CGI and OVHcloud to build storage for the 500PB of Earth observation data it expects to have by 2035

The European Space Agency (ESA) has entered into a partnership with OVHcloud and CGI to develop the ESA Earth Observation Information System, known as Digital EO. This ambitious project aims to amass 500PB of Earth observation data by 2035, serving scientists, researchers, businesses, and citizens across Europe and the UK. The decentralized cloud-based system will provide data and compute processing capabilities, enabling users to study and analyze the planet's data more effectively.

OVHcloud will handle the cloud storage and processing components, while CGI (through its France Défense et Spatial subsidiary) will manage the project, ensuring its successful implementation. The Digital EO initiative will initially be rolled out in Italy, France, and Germany, with plans to expand to other European nations, including Canada, despite the UK's departure from the European Union.

The ESA has chosen this partnership due to the growing need for better management and wider access to Earth observation data as satellite and hardware data collection continues to expand. Nicolaus Hanowski, the ESA's Head of EO Mission Management and Ground Segment Department, emphasized the importance of developing a European system capable of supporting the project's ambitious goals and providing long-term support to ESA and European Commission programs, such as Copernicus and DestinE.

As a staunch advocate for European independence in technology, OVHcloud's CEO and Founder, Octave Klaba, highlighted the significance of the project in granting Europe control over its most strategic programs. Klaba stated that the company is committed to delivering "performance, resilience, and security," with a focus on creating a robust, sovereign European Digital EO that can adapt to ESA's evolving needs and ambitions.