The European Umbrella Organisation for Geographic Information (EUROGI) held its first General Board Meeting (GBM) of the year on 1 April 2025 in Porto, Portugal.
The meeting coincided with the 2025 edition of the GISTAM Conference (International Conference on Geographical Information Systems Theory, Applications and Management), one of the leading international events in the GIS field.
As an institutional partner of GISTAM for 2025 and 2026, EUROGI’s participation marked a renewed commitment to strengthening collaboration with key stakeholders in geospatial science and technology.
The GBM brought together EUROGI members from across Europe in a hybrid format, enabling both in-person and online participation. Members discussed strategic priorities for the coming year, with a focus on broadening the organisation’s reach, clarifying membership categories, and enhancing engagement across sectors.
One of the highlights of the meeting was the proposal for a simplified and more inclusive fee structure to better accommodate organisations of different sizes and capacities. This initiative aims to foster a more diverse membership base, including national associations, private companies, academia, and potentially municipalities. Discussions also included introducing a new sponsorship category to create additional partnership opportunities for industry stakeholders.
EUROGI President Alejandro Guinea de Salas expressed confidence in the association’s direction: “EUROGI plays a key role in representing the geospatial community at the European level. With over 30 years of collaboration with EU institutions and a diverse membership spanning public, private, academic, and research sectors, our strength lies in offering a broad, collective perspective. The European Commission values this heterogeneity, regularly seeking our input to inform its policies and strategies.”
EUROGI at GISTAM 2025: Bringing Strategic Topics to the Forefront
EUROGI’s contribution to GISTAM 2025 included a dedicated session titled “European Challenges and Opportunities”, held also on 1 April. The session was open to all conference participants and offered a multi-perspective view on critical themes shaping the future of geospatial technologies.
In his talk, “The Challenge of Moving GI to the Next Level,” EUROGI President Alejandro Guinea de Salas addressed pressing issues such as data integration, accessibility, and the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in geospatial development.
Bruce McCormack presented “The Geospatial Ecosystem in 2030,” offering insights into emerging trends such as Digital Twins, robotics, and the evolving role of AI in decision-making systems.
Josef Strobl explored the intersection of geospatial technologies with civic engagement in his presentation “GeoMedia, Citizen Science and Public Participation,” highlighting the role of digital tools in enhancing transparency and governance.
Dr. Michael Gould discussed how universities and municipalities can collaborate effectively in his presentation “University and City Collaboration on Modern GIS Practice.” He underlined the importance of aligning academic curricula with real-world needs and challenges.
Francesca Piatto presented “EARSC’s (European Association of Remote Sensing Companies) Role in the Earth Observation Sector,” focusing on innovation, operational services, and the contribution of EO to societal needs.
Beyond the EUROGI session, Dr. Michael Gould also led a technical tutorial on “Analysis-ready Data and AI Models as Part of the Geospatial Data Ecosystem” on 2 April, which drew considerable interest from participants seeking practical guidance on integrating AI with spatial data infrastructures.
About EUROGI
The European Umbrella Organisation for Geographic Information (EUROGI) was founded in 1994 with the mission of advancing the use and value of location-based information across Europe. By fostering collaboration, supporting innovation, and engaging with policy processes, EUROGI aims to build a sustainable and digitally enabled Europe where geospatial technologies play a key role in prosperity and cohesion.
Media Contact:
Ada Perello
Communications Office
EUROGI
