Press release 28/03/24

Toulouse, March 28, 2024 – CS Group, Magellium, and vorteX-io, winners of the France 2030 call for programme for the use of satellite data in water monitoring and management, join forces with other partners and announce the launch of HydroVenture, the first Operational Center for Space Hydrology. This initiative aims to develop an industry of excellence in Space Hydrology by offering new products and services for the observation, modeling, and real-time management of Earth’s water resources.

Working to enhance global water knowledge and governance, HydroVenture provides an innovative solution that uses space data in combination with in-situ measurements and data modeling. This approach enables real-time monitoring and management of continental hydrological systems and addresses current challenges related to water data heterogeneity, lack of shared cross-border data, and limitations of existing ground sensor networks. By integrating available data and integrating those collected by upcoming space missions, HydroVenture paves the way for in-depth analysis and forecasts to monitor water stocks, mitigate flood and drought risks, and enhance water quality.

Bringing together leading players in the fields of Hydrology and Space, most of them members of the Aerospace Valley cluster, the consortium will meet the needs of private companies, state services, and international intergovernmental organizations involved in water resource management. This unprecedented public-private cooperation will support the development of an industry of excellence in space hydrology, contributing to France’s national Water Plan as well as the France 2030 initiative. It also aligns with European ambitions, capitalizing on the complementarity of the EU member states, European directives, and the vision of environmental EU programs such as DestinE and Copernicus. Finally, the consortium will be well-positioned to contribute to the UN Early Warning Services by the end of 2027.

HydroVenture will actively encourage the participation of research laboratories, startups, SMEs, industrial groups, and public sector actors. Together, they will form a dynamic partnership to feed data into the future Digital Twin Earth for Hydrology and develop new commercial products and services to address water-related challenges in various economic and geopolitical sectors, including transportation, agriculture, health, and civil security.

“ HydroVenture represents an open and dynamic collaboration among scientific experts specializing in spatial observation data, in-situ measurements, and numerical modeling, brought together within IR Data Terra and its THEIA hub, notably involving CNES, CNRS, INRAE, and IRD. The consortium builds on decades of commitment to Research and Development, and on a strategy to valorize scientific and industrial innovations strongly supported by CNES, “ said representatives from Data Terra.

HydroVenture will be structured around three pillars: an Operational Monitoring Center for real-time water cycle monitoring, a R&D Center with a collaborative Living Lab, and a Commercial Service offering value-added solutions via a marketplace.

To join the initiative, please visit the website.

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