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Satellite Applications Catapult Centre visited Chile

Delegation of the innovation centre advanced collaboration projects between the UK and Chile on the use of satellite-generated data.

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Mark Hampson, Chief Innovation Officer of Catapult, and Juan Pablo Gómez, Executive Director of CIREN.

Mark Hampson, Chief Innovation Officer of Catapult, and Juan Pablo Gómez, Executive Director of CIREN.

The UK Satellite Applications Catapult Centre, a British centre of innovation in the end use of satellite-generated data, had a very successful visit to Chile 26 November - 4 December. The Catapult delegation was made up of Mark Hampson, Chief Innovation Officer, David Livingstone, subject matter expert, Simon Agass, Senior Earth Observation Specialist and Wyn Cudlip, consultant.

During their visit to Chile they advanced collaboration projects between the UK and Chile on the use of satellites in agriculture, disaster response and maritime awareness.

Collaboration on agriculture will be taken forward through the Newton-Picarte Fund, for science and innovation collaboration between the UK and Chile. The £800,000 project will support Chile on land use and risk assessment, in order to support agricultural productivity and development. Partnering with the Chilean Centre for Information in Natural Resources (CIREN), the project will focus on improving the use of water resources and improving land registries. During his visit, Mr Hampson signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Juan Pablo Lopez, Executive Director of CIREN, which outlined the project focus and co-funding.

The delegation also advanced discussions on disaster awareness collaboration with the National Emergency Office (ONEMI).

Finally, the group visited Valparaiso to continue discussions with the Chilean Navy, fishing authorities and Foreign Ministry about collaboration on maritime situational awareness, particularly with respect to illegal fishing.

Further information

For more information about this visitt, contact Karl Zammit-Maempel, Head of Economic Affairs and Climate Change, British Embassy, Santiago.

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Published 11 December 2014