The mission of the Data User Element (DUE) is to encourage the establishment of a long-term relationship between user communities and Earth Observation.

The three major objectives of DUE, as stated in the Programme Declaration, are as follows:

• First, to create an environment allowing for the development of user communities for both institutional and commercial applications;
• Second, to support European companies in the development and demonstration of information products derived from current and future ESA missions;
• Third, to support industry - i.e. value adding and service companies - in establishing useful and cost effective services.

Implementation

A number of rules have been established in order to fulfil the three DUE objectives stated above. In particular, any DUE project must:

• respond to clear end-user needs;
• commit 'identified' end-users as active partners of the project
• build on already established research results;
• develop information products using EO data as one of the inputs;
• demonstrate service provision as a real operational test case for the user;
• lead to a sustainable service in the short term;
• be innovative.

User involvement

The ESA Director's Agenda 2007 states that "a fruitful dialogue with the user communities is key to ESA's transformation into a customer-oriented Agency".

Users play a key role in the DUE process and are expected to participate actively in Programme projects. In this regard the Agency is taking a proactive role in identifying and liaising with large user organisations.

The mechanism for user involvement in DUE projects is explained in more detail in the User Partnership section.

Organisation

The Data User Element (DUE) is a programmatic component of the Earth Observation Envelope Programme, an optional programme of the European Space Agency that is currently subscribed to by 14 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom).

The Programme is run by the Project Section of the Exploitation and Services Division (D/EOP-SEP) within ESA's Earth Observation Science and Applications Department.

Programme History

The DUE pursues the same objective as its DUP predecessor. This lasted from 1996 to 2003 with an initial period of five years (DUP-1, 1996-2000), followed by a second phase of three years (DUP-2, 2001-2003).

The DUP was initially subscribed to by Belgium and the Netherlands in 1996, followed by Switzerland in early 1997. Italy joined in late 1999.

Under the DUP a total 49 projects with a combined budget of 15 Meuros have been awarded to companies from the four participating countries according to the respective subscriptions to the programme.

Status of DUE

The DUE has now been integrated in the second period of the Earth Observation Envelope Programme (EOEP), covering the time frame 2003 to 2007.

In addition to the four countries already involved in the DUP, the ten additional countries mentioned above joined the DUE in 2002 as part of their EOEP subscriptions.

The total budget for development within the DUE is circa 15 Meuros.