Global coverage is one of the key assets of satellite Earth observation. Consequently, it is a technology that strongly relies on international partnerships. Such partnerships cover all activities from strategy and infrastructure to operations and exploitation. The list below is a brief summary of the organizations most relevant to Switzerland’s Earth observation activities. 

Global

• The United Nations and affiliated organizations operate global observing systems for climate, land surfaces and oceans.
• The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is dedicated to connecting and merging existing Earth observation systems within a global network, GEOSS. 
• The Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) is responsible for the coordination of civil space-borne satellites of 52 associated organizations. 
  

European

• The European Space Agency (ESA) is the primary partner for Switzerland’s space flight activities.
• Eumetsat maintains a network of operational meteorological satellites for weather forecasting and climate observation. 
  

National

• The Swiss Space Office (SSO) at the State Secretariat for Education and Research (SER) is responsible for proposing and implementing the Swiss space policy. 
• The Swiss Network of Geospatial Imaging Experts (SGPBF) unites professional experts in the fields of remote sensing and photogrammetry. 
• The Swiss Earth Observation Service Providers Society (SED) is a community of interests by small and medium-sized Swiss companies in the field of earth observation.