In May 2025, SpaceSUITE partners GISIG, EARSC and UJENA participated in the GEO Global Forum 2025 in Rome, Italy, which provided critical insights into skills development and youth engagement for the Earth Observation (EO) workforce. With over 100 community event submissions, the forum hosted 19 community sessions, the Open Data Open Knowledge Workshop, 8 GEO-20 plenary sessions, many side-events at different booths, and a dedicated Student’s Day, prominently featuring the SPACE4GEO Large-scale Skills Partnership. 

In the session “Youth as Agents of Change for a Skilled Workforce in the EO Sector,” led by Lena Moral Waldmeier, it was emphasized that EO skills development must keep pace with technological advancements and use needs. Panel discussions, including contributions from industry, academia, and youth-led initiatives, identified critical gaps and actionable solutions: 

• Milva Carbonaro (GISIG) presented the SPACE4GEO Sector Skills Alliance, outlining structured approaches under the EU Pact for Skills to foster comprehensive EO training aligned with real industry needs. 

• From an academic perspective, Martyna Stelmaszczuk-Górska (University of Jena / EO College) highlighted the gap between EO education and practical applications, stressing the need for better resource visibility, interdisciplinary training, and internationally recognized certification standards.  

• Ricardo Quiroga (Red LabOT) shared a practical example of successful certification through the LaBOT initiative, active in over 14 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. The initiative offers an “Earth Intelligence” certification, combining technical geospatial competencies, project management skills, and community engagement—fostering regional collaboration and empowering youth. 

• Monica Miguel-Lago (EARSC) representing industrial perspective underscored the critical role of the private sector in supporting workforce transformation through structured co-investments in skills development and real-world innovation challenges aligned with industry demands. 

The session highlighted significant opportunities offered by youth-led initiatives, including Youth Ideathons and startups, showcasing young professionals as drivers of innovation, sustainability, and digital fluency in the EO sector. 

At the EU Booth, EARSC hosted a panel titled “Challenges in Engaging EO Communities: Technology, Capacity Building, and Skills.” Speakers Daniela Brauner (GÉANT) and Yousef Torman (ASREN) highlighted essential infrastructure developments enhancing EO data accessibility and regional collaboration. Milva Carbonaro (GISIG) presented the SPACE4GEO Sector Skills Alliance and the SpaceSUITE project, emphasizing structured training aligned with EU policies. Martyna Stelmaszczuk-Górska (University of Jena / EO College) introduced the GeoSpace Body of Knowledge (BoK) as a key reference for standardized skills and certification in EO, GI, GNSS, and satellite communication sectors, ensuring alignment among industry, academia, and training providers. The panel concluded with a clear call: aligning infrastructure, skills, and certification is crucial for developing a capable, connected EO workforce ready to address global challenges. 

The Forum’s dedicated Youth community event, “Youth as Agents of Change for a Skilled Workforce in the EO Sector,” emphasized the urgent need for balanced, interdisciplinary skills among future EO professionals. Further reinforcing youth involvement, the forum marked the launch of the GEO Youth Community of Practice (Youth CoP). This initiative emphasizes structured engagement and highlights young professionals as essential contributors to future EO capacity-building efforts.