The European Space Agency (ESA), in collaboration with the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), is setting up an Arctic Satellite Calibration and Validation Centre in Sodankylä, Lapland.
The centre will focus on improving the quality of satellite data and fostering new services and applications related to the Arctic region.
Sodankylä is already home to much of Finland's satellite infrastructure, hosting the Arctic Space Centre (FMI-ARC) and the National Satellite Data Centre (NSDC).
According to Petteri Taalas, Director General of the FMI, the centre will significantly enhance Finland's role in international space activities.
"The centre will also create growth opportunities for Finland's space industry and improve the level of scientific knowledge," Taalas said.
Satellite data to improve Arctic observations
With satellite-based observations, researchers will be able to gather more accurate information to make surface observations in the Arctic region. The initiative has drawn particular interest from ESA's Earth Observation Programme Board.
Finland does not have its own national space agency, but ESA serves as the backbone of the country's space operations. According to Jarkko Koskinen, Deputy Director General of the National Land Survey of Finland and chair of the meeting, Finnish participation in ESA's programmes has led to the development of applications with significant societal benefits.
"Mapping and monitoring sea ice, for example, allows icebreakers to operate efficiently. The ice service is designed to utilise satellite data from ESA," Koskinen explained.
In addition to sea ice monitoring, ESA data supports national forest inventories, snowmelt monitoring, flood forecasting and weather services in Finland.
Lapland: An ideal location for satellite research
Lapland's high-latitude location makes it ideal for satellite operations, as climate change and biodiversity shifts are more pronounced in the Arctic region.
"Currently, the information we receive is entirely satellite data," Koskinen said, highlighting its importance for tracking sea ice melting, changes in snow cover and shifts in vegetation that affect both animals and humans.
Remote sensing and positioning technologies are also expected to become key components of future digitalisation.
"We're talking about smart transport and self-driving cars. There's also smart forestry, where machines can independently harvest trees. Remote sensing enables these kinds of innovations," Koskinen said.
According to Koskinen, much of digital automation will be powered by advances in space technology.
Rise of Finland's new space industry
ESA has played a crucial role in fostering Finland's emerging new space ecosystem, which focuses on private sector-driven innovations. One notable company is Kuva Space, which specialises in satellite imaging technologies.
According to Jarkko Antila, CEO of Kuva Space, the company is building a large global monitoring system consisting of satellites equipped with specialised cameras.
"We aim to monitor the entire planet twice a day," Antila said.
Kuva Space provides information on global biodiversity and climate change. The company also delivers early-warning data to clients during crises or potential threat scenarios, helping them prepare in advance.
"We capture images using a specialised camera that can see things invisible to the human eye," Antila explained.
These images can identify plant species and materials, and, when combined with artificial intelligence, generate actionable information for governmental bodies and businesses. "This is information they can directly use," Antila added.