This five-day training course, taking place in Riga, Latvia, offers a foundational exploration of the technologies, workflows, and business applications shaping the Earth Observation (EO) data landscape. Running from 22 to 26 September 2025, it provides a practical springboard for participants attending the Big Data from Space (BiDS) conference the following week (29 September – 3 October).

With the 2025 edition of the ‘Big Data Foundations for EO’ course, ESA places participants at the forefront of European advances in EO science and technology. The programme covers today’s most relevant topics: AI at scale, high-performance computing for EO, and best practices in reproducibility – illustrated through a comprehensive range of applications and business models spanning the entire EO value chain. It’s both an excellent introduction to the EO landscape as it is today, and a window into the future. — Anca Anghelea (Open Science Platform Engineer at ESA and co-organiser of the ESA’s 2025 Big Data Foundations for Earth Observation Training Course)

The course is complimentary and designed to serve a diverse audience, with a primary focus on educators, researchers, and institutional representatives from the Baltic region. It also welcomes industry professionals, start-ups, and innovators seeking to explore EO commercialisation pathways. 

The ‘Big Data Foundations for Earth Observation’ course is a significant opportunity for the Baltic region. By bringing world-class EO expertise to Riga, we are strengthening our regional capacity, empowering our educators, and inspiring the next generation of researchers and innovators. This training directly supports our national and regional ambitions to become active contributors in the evolving space economy, ensuring that our institutions and industries are not just observers, but participants in Europe’s space future. — Kaspars Karolis, Head of Latvian delegation in ESA, Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia