From September 29 to October 3, Riga will host the international conference on Big Data from Space “Big Data from Space 2025” (BiDS2025). For the seventh time, it will bring together experts from science, policy, industry, and society. The event aims to foster collaboration and the exchange of ideas to address global challenges, including climate change, sustainability, security, and digital transformation.
Satellite-derived space data is one of the key tools through which space technologies drive economic development. It enables progress in areas such as satellite navigation, Earth observation, and telecommunications, as well as their integration with emerging digital technologies – the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, 5G, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing.
Programme
- September 29–30: Satellite events and hackathons at the Academic Centre of the University of Latvia, featuring interactive workshops that will promote both learning and networking opportunities.
- October 1–3: The leading conference will be held at the National Library of Latvia, featuring panel discussions, poster sessions, an industrial exhibition, a demonstration zone, B2B events, and other activities.
This large-scale conference provides an opportunity for both Latvian and international researchers to share their findings with the global community, while companies can showcase their innovative solutions to space industry professionals.
The core themes of BiDS2025 emphasise the significance of big data in addressing climate change and fostering sustainable development, as well as its role in shaping European and global policy agendas. The conference will emphasise advances in data science, the principles of open and FAIR data, and the creation of new digital technologies.
Stefanie Lumnitz, Earth Observation Scientist at the European Space Agency for "Horizon Europe" and member of the BiDS Organising Committee, notes:
“Big data from space offers opportunities to explore and create innovative solutions to global challenges. BiDS 2025 will be an excellent platform to exchange ideas that can improve our future, and I am delighted that this year we can meet in Riga.”
The conference is organised by the European Space Agency (ESA), the EU Satellite Centre (EU SatCen), and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), together with the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science under the science communication brand researchLatvia, and the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia. The event is implemented within the framework of the ERDF project “Development of Innovative Entrepreneurship in SMEs” and project No. 1.1.1.1/1/24/I/001 “More Effective and Smarter Implementation and Management of Latvia’s Science Policy.”
