Open Call for UDENE Tools Integration in Geodata Science Education

The general objective of this call is to position UDENE tools as practice software for applied courses in related domains. With this impact pathway, not only the project’s outcome (including the open-source software) will be exploited but also competencies in using Copernicus related products and services will be spread in the Copernicus International Partner Countries.

UDENE Project is a Research and Innovation Action funded by EUSPA under the Horizon Europe Programme. It leverages Copernicus Earth Observation (EO) data to discover occurrences (natural experiments) of urban development interventions intended for an Area of Interest (AoI) elsewhere in the world which are similar to the AoI in terms of causally related properties to the intended outcome of the intervention.

Existing use cases target the effect of green spaces on urban heat islands, the effect of transportation infrastructure on air quality, and the effect of the built environment on earthquake resilience. By integrating EO data, machine learning, and advanced causal modelling, UDENE provides robust tools enabling evidence-based urban planning and decision-making. The project supports international collaboration, promoting the uptake of Copernicus services through validation of practical urban development solutions across Copernicus International partner countries such as Serbia, Tunisia, and Türkiye.

Objectives

• To expand the skilled user base of Copernicus Earth Observation System
• To demonstrate the value of geodata science in public services for maximizing societal impact
• To enable hands on training by embedding UDENE tools into educational curricula and training programs

Funding Information

• Total funding available: €60,000
• There will be two winners per call per country, each of which will receive €10,000 lump sum funding upon completing their educational plans.
• Duration: 2 Months

Expected Outcomes 

• The grant receivers are expected to deliver an educational plan with the following components:
  • Curriculum design for geodata science as an applied discipline
  • Educational modules or course content integrating UDENE tools into practical geodata science curricula, ready to be adopted by vocational and higher educational institutions and/or training programs
  • Demonstrative case studies suitable for the intended skill levels showcasing the use of UDENE tools and Copernicus products in solving specific urban development challenges relevant to the partner countries.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible organisations or individuals should be established in Türkiye, Serbia or Tunisia.
• SMEs, start-ups, Local authorities, NGOs, Associations, Education and Training Organizations, Research Performing Institutions, individuals, and teams of individuals, based in one of the target countries can be applicants.

For more information, visit UDENE.