The role of small satellites in strengthening innovative use case (Estefania Blanch)

The role of small satellites in strengthening innovative use case within the framework of the Catalonia Space Strategy The Open-Earth Monitor Global Workshop 2026 "Next-Generation EO & GeoAI Built on Openness and Distributed Data" 7-9 October 2026, Barcelona, Spain https://earthmonitor.org/global-workshop-2026/ Over the past five years, the Government of Catalonia has made a firm and sustained commitment to developing a competitive and innovation‑driven space sector. This effort has combined Catalonia’s strong capabilities in digital technologies, scientific research and industrial engineering with coordinated collaboration across public institutions, universities, research centres and private companies. As part of this initiative, several small satellite missions for communications and Earth observation, such as the GENIOT and GENEO series, have been deployed with supporting ground infrastructure and data platforms. Initially conceived as technology demonstrators, these missions have enabled the validation of operational capabilities and the development of innovative services in areas such as disaster risk management, environmental monitoring and territorial management among others. This talk presents the role of small satellites in enabling innovative use cases highlighting the supporting infrastructure, service adoption and future developments under the Catalonia Space 2030 Strategy, approved in November 2025, which foresees the deployment of eight satellite missions by 2030 focused on Earth observation and advanced communications and resilience‑oriented applications.