Aberystwyth University is to take the lead in a programme to help Welsh companies capture satellite and drone data.
Named the Geographical Data and Earth Observation for Monitoring (GEOM) programme, it will be run in collaboration with tech and science company QinetiQ and encourage smaller firms to develop products and services exploiting data that could be used in sectors including security, transport and infrastructure management.
Backing worth £1.9 million has come from the EU, with the total value of the programme reported to be £3 million.
Welsh Government Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford, said: “This is another great example of how the Welsh Government is investing EU funds to position Wales as a competitive and outward facing nation.
“Driving innovation through world class research and expertise in our universities alongside businesses will secure investment and employability in this fast growing sector.”
Aberystwyth University will work with up to 25 companies, which are already using satellite and drone technologies, to help address challenges affecting the different sectors. These include using drones to precisely map hazards such as overhanging trees or over steepened embankment slopes along railways lines.
Image from NASA, CC BY 2.0 through flickr
