NWO Use of Space Infrastructure for Vegetation Research (GO)

Grant funding for interdisciplinary scientific research focused on the use of various types of satellite data, such as hyperspectral data and in-situ data, for research in the fields of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Various national and international space organisations and institutes have launched, and maintain, an advanced and diverse infrastructure in space. This space infrastructure, and the data and signals it produces, are available to scientific users and other users. The Netherlands also contributes to the realisation and maintenance of this infrastructure.

The Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO – Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research), in collaboration with the Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap (OCW – Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science) and the Netherlands Space Office (NSO), have made funding available to encourage the use of this infrastructure by Dutch researchers for the benefit of science and society.

The Use of Space Infrastructure for Earth Observation and Planetary Research Programme (GO – Gebruik van Ruimte-Infrastructuur voor Aardobservatie- en Planeetonderzoek) supports researchers in the Netherlands with substantial use of space infrastructure for high-quality scientific research. Within this objective, the GO programme is open to scientific research in the field of two themes:

1. Earth observation.
2. Planets and other objects within our solar system.

This GO Call invites innovative scientific research that makes use of space-based infrastructure to advance vegetation studies. The central focus is on combining satellite and in-situ data to address applications in biodiversity and ecosystems.

In line with the general objectives of the GO programme, this call specifies that proposals must employ data obtained through space infrastructure, including hyperspectral imagery as well as other satellite sources such as optical and radar data. The research should address interdisciplinary scientific questions situated at the interface of multiple sub-disciplines within Earth and Environmental sciences, with particular attention to vegetation, ecosystems, and biodiversity.

The policy objectives of this call are twofold. First, it seeks to strengthen collaboration across the Earth observation and environmental science communities, supporting one of the key aims of the Dutch Earth Observation Strategic Plan 2020-2025. Second, it aims to prepare Dutch research for a stronger role in processing both current and future hyperspectral datasets to address vegetation-related challenges relevant to the Netherlands.

To achieve these objectives, this GO round will fund a single coherent consortium proposal. The proposal should demonstrate interconnected sub-projects that collectively address scientific questions within the theme. It must include the mandatory use of hyperspectral data alongside other satellite datasets, and it should integrate in-situ data to improve the quality of satellite observations, for example through calibration and validation. The research must take place at disciplinary interfaces, ensuring that collaboration across sub-fields is central to the programme.

Consortia may define related sub-themes within the research programme, but coherence is essential. The programme must not become a loose collection of separate projects; instead, it should present a unified and integrated approach to vegetation research using space infrastructure.