OBSERVER: FPCUP – Seven years of strengthening Copernicus uptake across Europe and beyond

Over the past seven years, the Caroline Herschel Framework Partnership Agreement (FPCUP) has strengthened the connection between the European Union’s Earth Observation programme and its user community. Through more than 220 actions carried out by 50 partners across 23 countries, it has supported the wider use of Copernicus data, encouraged innovation, and fostered lasting collaboration among national institutions. As the project comes to a close, its results highlight how coordinated European efforts can expand the benefits of space data for society. In this Observer, we revisit the FPCUP’s origins, outcomes, and contributions to the Copernicus ecosystem.

The European Commission launched the Caroline Herschel Framework Partnership Agreement on Copernicus User Uptake (FPCUP) in 2018 as a core instrument in its strategy to broaden the use of Copernicus data and services across Europe. Coordinated by DLR (the German Aerospace Center), the project was jointly funded, with the European Commission co-financing actions with national and regional partners.

Named in honour of astronomer Caroline Herschel, the initiative was intended to strengthen the Copernicus ecosystem by focusing on user uptake, that is, promoting not only the availability of data but its active use in real applications and services. The idea was for national and regional authorities, research organisations, SMEs, and other stakeholders to have a say in designing and deploying services tailored to their context and needs.

FPCUP sought to complement the existing user uptake instruments by operating at the community level and catalysing innovation. Over seven years, FPCUP served as a link between Copernicus data providers and the communities applying these data in policy, research, and services across Europe.