On 24 July 2024, representatives of the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre participated in the 10th Technical Update Conference organised by the National Geographic Institute “Tommy Guardia” (IGNTG) of the National Land Administration Authority of Panama (ANATI). The conference’s main objective this year, following the recommendation of the United Nations, was to highlight the value of partnerships among institutions and agencies for the development of Integrated Geospatial Information Frameworks (IGIF).
Mrs. Claudia Herrera, Liaison Officer of the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre, presented the role of the Centre as a regional hub for increasing the resilience of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries by supporting their geospatial data management capacity and strategic use. She also highlighted the important role which Copernicus can play in this endeavour, as well as the valuable potential for improved national and regional outcomes through strong strategic partnerships.
During the inauguration of the event, Mr. Francisco García, Deputy Director of Research and Technological Development of the National Secretary of Science, Technology and Innovation of Panama (SENACYT), on behalf of Secretary Eduardo Ortega-Barrios, highlighted the national importance of strengthening the management of geospatial information through the creation of an IGIF, with the goal of achieving a National Action Plan for geospatial information. He underlined the support of SENACYT in the development of the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre, which complements its actions to promote policies and good practices that allow for the creation of an Open Science strategy and further democratisation of scientific knowledge.
The conference was attended by representatives from international and national institutions. It included a presentation by Mr. Carlos Kan of the National Authority for Government Innovation of Panama (AIG), who presented the development process of the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre and case studies at the local level of capacity-building related to geospatial information management.
About the CopernicusLAC Panama Centre
The Copernicus LAC Panama Centre’s activities take place within the overall context of the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, which is a strategic framework for promoting cooperation between the EU and the LAC region on digital and space issues under the EU Global Gateway umbrella. Within this context, the European Space Agency (ESA) is coordinating the Centre’s implementation on the basis of a Contribution Agreement with the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) of the European Commission, and in close collaboration with Panama’s government, MIRE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Government Innovation Authority (AIG), and SENACYT (National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation).
