This programme, managed by the “Space Research and Applications” directorate of the Belgian Science Policy office (BELSPO), offers to Belgian universities, public scientific institutions and non-profit research institutions opportunities and tools for the development of an expertise in Earth observation and a maximized scientific use of satellite and airborne data.
The STEREO programme is currently in its third phase (STEREO III: 2014-2021). It is the seventh in a continuous series of programmes (preceded by TELSAT I-IV, STEREO I and STEREO II), ensuring a continuous funding of Earth observation research since the launch of the first initiative in 1985 as support to the Belgium participation in first SPOT satellite development.
There is an obvious synergy between STEREO III, ESA and EU activities. Notably the thematic research priorities of STEREO III are in line with those of H2020. These are:
- Global monitoring of vegetation and evolution of terrestrial ecosystems
- Management of the environment on a local and regional scale (water, soil, forest, nature reserves and biodiversity, agriculture, coastal areas, urban and peri-urban areas)
- Interaction between (change in) land cover and climate change
- Epidemiology and humanitarian aid
- Security and risk management
STEREO III's goals evolved from those in the previous programmes and are:
- Support innovative high quality research in the field of remote sensing.
- Keep/put Belgium on the map as international centre of expertise in a number of remote sensing fields.
- Stimulate international collaborations and to secure integration of Belgian teams in international partnerships.
- Support Belgium’s remote sensing instruments and platforms.
- Stimulate the development of new remote sensing applications.
- Introduce the use of remote sensing in new disciplines and to new users.
- Promote remote sensing and especially results of Belgian and STEREO research.
The STEREO III programme is organized around three pillars:
Scientific research
The scientific research covers on the one hand the research projects research projects (thematic networks, exploration, shared-cost and dissemination and support) as such and on the other hand the development of applications.
Transversal support of scientific STEREO research
The transversal support concentrates activities which are beneficial to the entire Belgian remote sensing community. The 3 main activities conducted in STEREO III are:
- The further development of the Belgian BELAIR test sites, a string of locations in Belgium of which a high volume of both Earth observation data (hyperspectral, very high resolution…) and in situ data (field campaigns, flux towers…) is being collected and integrated.
- In parallel with the BELAIR activities, a STEREO toolbox is under construction to offer everyone user-friendly access to software previously developed within the Belgian remote sensing community;
- Support to “Belgian” Remote sensing instruments and infrastructure, e.g. through the organisation of dedicated APEX campaigns, support to the Belgian Copernicus Collaborative Ground Segment.
User support and promotion
The STEREO programme has always been keen to offer high quality user support and promote remote sensing and Belgian initiatives in the field of Earth observation.
Support to satellite data users is achieved by offering information to the scientific community and by ensuring satellite image acquisitions for the needs of BELSPO funded projects.
To promote Remote Sensing and Belgian commitment in Earth Observation, the STEREO team
- offers information to the public at large and answers your questions in the field of satellite Earth Observation;
- develops educational and promotional material;
- supports events;
- publishes articles, booklets and reports;
- promotes Belgian participation in the Pléiades programme.
The currently ongoing STEREO III programme is but one in a series of BELSPO funded programmes dealing with remote sensing that go back over 30 years. While remote sensing was only a (minor) component in some of the programmes, it was the sole focus in most of them.
The various programmes are listed below:
Past Belgian Earth observation research programmes
STEREO II (2007-2013) - 62 projects
PROBA-V Preparatory Programme (2010- 2011) - 7 projects
ORFEO - Support Programme for the use of Optical and Radar Federated Earth Observation data (2004 - 2009) - 7 projects
STEREO I (2001-2006) - 36 projects
VGT Research Programme - Scientific support for the exploitation of the "Vegetation" instrument (2001-2005) - 2 projects
Telsat IV (1996-2001) - 74 projects
Telsat III (1993-1996) - 20 projects
Telsat II (1989-1993) - 29 projects
Telsat I (1985-1989)
BELSPO financed programmes with an EO component
BILATERAL - Bilateral agreements (2001 - ) - 12 EO projects
SSD - Science for a Sustainable Development (2006 - 2016) - 5 EO projects
SPSD 1 - Global change and sustainable development (1996 - 2000) - 5 EO projects
Other programmes
CNES Vegetation Preparatory Programme (1995 - 2000) - 14 projects
UNESCO World Heritage Project (2001) - 3 projects
Belgian Earth observation directory
Discover the world of remote sensing in Belgium: this section gives access to a vast database of knowledge regarding Earth observation in Belgium.
Events and timed opportunities organised by BELSPO, STEREO or its partners
Events
EARSeL Liège 2021 – Earth Observation for sustainable...
Running from 30 March to 1 April 2021
Latest STEREO featured stories

MUZUBI: using interferometry to evaluate volcanic risks
Published on 23 February 2021

BEODay 2018 2.0 was a success!
Published on 21 November 2018

SAT-EX project culminates with an international workshop on global vegetation dynamics
Published on 20 November 2018

Kyoto: PROBA-V image of the week
Published on 23 October 2018

URBANEARS scientist successfully defended her doctoral dissertation
Published on 18 October 2018

ESA publishes STEREO Success story (RESIST project)
Published on 22 May 2018

Terrascope Releases its First EO Browser
Published on 8 May 2018

Six years of the new SMOS SSS maps in the Mediterranean Sea now available!
Published on 6 April 2018

Antarctica acquisitions by PROBA-V
Published on 15 December 2017

Greenland Peat Fires captured by STEREO researchers
Published on 18 August 2017