The GEO Global Forum 2025, held in Rome, Italy from May 5–9, 2025, marked a significant international gathering to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO). The event, hosted at the Auditorium della Tecnica Congress Center, brought together representatives from over 50 member countries and more than 40 organizations.

The forum highlighted the transformative role of Earth observation data in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It provided a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences on topics such as disaster risk reduction, food security, combating climate change, land degradation monitoring, and water management. Hosted by the European Commission and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the event also featured discussions on the outcomes of EU programs such as Copernicus and explored new opportunities for international cooperation.

A Strong Message from Türkiye on the International Stage

During the key sessions of the forum, namely the GEO-20 Plenary and Ministerial Meetings, TÜBİTAK UZAY Institute Director Mehmet NEFES and Remote Sensing Group Leader Kaan KALKAN, Ph.D. participated in the panels titled “Earth Intelligence for One Health” and “Earth Intelligence for Disaster Risk Reduction”. They emphasized Türkiye’s commitment and active engagement with the GEO initiative. Throughout the event, bilateral meetings were held with delegations from various countries to exchange information and experiences.

TÜBİTAK UZAY’s Steps in Line with a Global Vision

The GEO Global Forum 2025 proved to be a highly productive event for enhancing international visibility, of TÜBİTAK UZAY, reinforcing its active role within the GEO platform, and exploring collaboration opportunities in EU-funded projects. The continued engagement of the Institute in this global platform and the deepening of strategic partnerships within the GEO network are considered crucial for strengthening the position of TÜBİTAK UZAY in the international arena.