1)      General objective

The consultancy aims to develop a catalogue of relevant referential innovative Earth-Observation (EO) open-source tools and solutions projects, developed in Europe that can support knowledge transfer to local businesses and foster entrepreneurship in the 3 targeted countries of the DGI project. The catalogue should focus on solutions that utilize EO technologies and address climate challenges, digital transformation, business development and sustainability.

2)      Specific objectives

1.    Catalogue development: Compile a detailed inventory of relevant open-source EO tools and solutions from Europe. The catalogue will align with DGI’s focus on the climate challenges and opportunities in the 3 targeted countries, addressing the trainings and support needs of start-ups, enterprises, and BSOs. The consultant will assess the relevance and applicability of these tools to the specific needs of the companies that may benefit from the project. The catalogue will include only selected open sources able to be transferred to DGI companies beneficiaries from the three priority countries of the project So, a criteria list will be proposed and approved by EF at the beginning of the project.

2.  Propose practical recommendations for each selected open-source and services to facilitate the transfer of these solutions to local businesses/innovators, and BSOs, including how these can be integrated into the current LAC entrepreneurial ecosystems, particularly into the three priority countries of the project.

3.    For each selected open-source modules and services, identify the partners (such as research laboratories-universities, companies, etc.) that can be mobilized to facilitate and provide the necessary services for an efficient transfer and use.

3)      Anticipated results and deliverables

ü  A comprehensive catalogue, including a listing of relevant European open-source tools, and selected solutions from Europe stakeholders, service providers and trainers (with detailed descriptions and contacts, case studies, and use cases for each), and a categorization of solutions by theme (for ex. EO data processing, climate resilience, digital transformation).

ü  A final report and a presentation summarizing the findings, including practical recommendations for integrating the identified solutions into local innovation ecosystems, specifically targeting DGI’s business beneficiaries, as well as recommendations for capacity-building activities for BSOs to promote the adoption of these solutions by local start-ups and companies.

           4)    Planned activities

The senior Expert will be responsible for carrying out this mission, and shall undertake the following tasks:

1. Kick-off meeting:

o   Organize a kick-off meeting with Expertise France to present and discuss the work plan, methodology and selection criteria of open source tools.

2. Selection Criteria

o   Propose a selection criteria map for the open source tools. This selection criteria will be discussed and approved by EF. Open source tools & services selection criteria should include level of maturity and transfer potential, entity support and relevance to identified challenges.

2. Desk research and European open sources tools assessment:

o   Conduct extensive desk research on existing EO project results, open-source tools from Europe (for ex. EO data processing, climate resilience, digital transformation). Focus, but non only, on initiatives utilizing Copernicus data and services for climate change.

3. Stakeholder mapping:

o   Identify relevant stakeholders/companies, university Labs and service providers in Europe who have developed or are using innovative open-source solutions related to Earth Observation.

4. Catalogue compilation:

o   Select following the selection criteria, compile, categorize, and develop the comprehensive catalogue with relevant descriptions, practical examples and contacts. For each selected open-source modules and services, identify the partners (such as research laboratories, companies, etc.) that can be mobilized to facilitate and provide the necessary services for an efficient transfer and use.

5. Final report and presentation:

2. • Prepare a final report summarizing the findings including a well laid-out formatted catalogue, and deliver a presentation to Expertise France.

5)      Coordination

The service provider shall designate a single contact person for project implementation purposes. 

The Project Leader of the DGI project (Output 1.3) part of the Sustainable and Inclusive Economy Department will be the service provider’s sole contact person for Expertise France. Telephone and E-mail will be mentioned within this assignment’ contract.

A launch meeting shall be held one week after the contract award has been notified.

Close collaboration must take place between the service provider through its designated senior expert and Expertise France’s Project Leader, technical expert and also Project Officer from assignment preparation right up to completion. Furthermore, regular exchanges must take place on assignment progress and any difficulties that may be encountered.

6)      Schedule/programme/deliverables: 

The provisional programme for assignment implementation is as follows: 20 man/days over a period of approx. max. 10 weeks. The consultant will work under the supervision of the DGI Project Leader and maintain regular communication. Deliverables will be submitted for review and validation according to the following timeline:

1.      Inception report: One week after the start of the assignment, outlining the proposed work plan, methodology, and selection criteria of open source solutions.

2.      Preliminary catalogue: By week 5, submission of a preliminary catalogue for review.

3.      Final laid-out catalogue and report: By week 9, submission of the final catalogue and report with recommendations.