Division 6 EVOLUTION OF THE COPERNICUS SERVICE COMPONENT UNTIL 2020

The Copernicus operational services, programmed in the context of the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), will evolve in line with recognised and emerging user requirements and state of the art methodologies.

The entrusted entities shall be continuously evolving their portfolio based on user feedback, advances in the state-of-the-art, as well as findings from validation processes in order to maintain the various products relevant. Immediate service maintenance and enhancement in response to the Copernicus work programme shall be part of operational tasks. Where appropriate, the long-term evolutions shall take into account input resulting from performed activities in the framework of H2020 and other research programmes.

In this MFF three main evolving situations may be envisaged:

1. (a)

   evolution of existing products is aimed at product enhancement;

2. (b)

   during the programme period new products and service groups may be introduced;

3. (c)

   emerging and new needs stemming from policy implementation may lead to the possible addition of new product groups currently not foreseen in these technical specifications of the service.

In cases referred to in point (c) the entrusted entity shall analyse the expected benefits, costs and impact on operations. On this basis, a discussion in the Copernicus User Forum and the Copernicus Committee shall be held to decide on the implementation of such a new product group.

The situations referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) above shall take into account the following inputs:

1. (a)

   Union policy evolution;

2. (b)

   user evolving requirements;

3. (c)

   user feedback on the current service;

4. (d)

   availability of new observation data;

5. (e)

   recommendations from experts;

6. (f)

   new methods stemming from research projects, such as Horizon 2020.