China and Europe Strengthen Earth Observation Partnership with Dragon 6 Agreement
China and Europe have taken a significant step forward in their long-standing collaboration on Earth observation, signing a new agreement to launch Phase 6 of the Dragon Program. The announcement came during the opening of the Dragon Program conference in Lisbon on Monday, marking a transition from Dragon 5 to Dragon 6, with a renewed focus on climate change and big data.
Organized by China’s Ministry of Science and Technology and the European Space Agency (ESA), the five-day symposium has brought together nearly 300 experts and scholars from China and Europe. Participants are discussing the achievements of Dragon 5 and introducing new projects under Dragon 6, with an emphasis on the latest developments in Earth observation technology and the application of satellite remote sensing in environmental protection and disaster mitigation.
The newly signed cooperation agreement for Dragon 6, spanning from 2024 to 2028, encompasses ten key themes, including land, atmosphere, climate change, and big data. Under this agreement, both sides will continue to promote the sharing and application of Earth observation data through collaborative research, academic exchanges, and talent training.
In a notable development, the China Science and Technology Exchange Center will now oversee the Chinese management of the Dragon Program, working alongside ESA’s Earth Observation Department.
High-Level Support for Continued Collaboration
During the opening ceremony, Zhao Bentang, China’s ambassador to Portugal, highlighted the Dragon Program as a model of China-Europe scientific and technological cooperation. He emphasized that both parties have significantly contributed to global scientific innovation and talent cultivation through this partnership.
Dai Gang, director-general of the Department of International Cooperation at China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, delivered a video speech underscoring the importance of the collaborative efforts. “China and Europe have supported collaborative research, technical training, academic exchanges, and data sharing within the framework of the Dragon Program,” he said. “These efforts have fostered a stable joint research team for Earth observation, achieved internationally leading research results, and provided technological support for tackling global challenges such as climate change.”
Gao Xiang, director general of the China Science and Technology Exchange Center, noted that the Dragon Program has seen continuous improvement over the past 20 years. “The program has broadened its research fields, data sources, and the number of participating scientists, contributing to the economic and social development of both sides,” he said.
Josef Aschbacher, director-general of ESA, remarked that the Dragon Program is one of the longest-standing and most fruitful cooperative projects between China and Europe. “It has facilitated exchanges between scientists from both regions and promoted the application of technological achievements,” he stated.
Looking Ahead
The Dragon Program, established in 2004, is a joint initiative aimed at exploiting data from Earth observation satellites. The program has become a cornerstone of Sino-European cooperation in Earth sciences, providing valuable insights into environmental monitoring, climate change, and sustainable development.
With the launch of Dragon 6, China and Europe reaffirm their commitment to scientific collaboration and addressing global challenges. The continued partnership promises to advance Earth observation technologies and contribute to a better understanding of our planet.
Reference(s):
China, Europe boost Earth observation efforts with new agreement
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