Internal Research Fellow (PostDoc) in Earth Observation Economy and AI

Our team and mission

Reporting to the Head of the Explore Office in the ESA Φ-lab, you will work in close cooperation with other staff in the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes, in particular with the Head of the Invest Office in the ESA Φ-lab, alongside another Research Fellow who is working on a complementary aspect of the same thematic area, under the guidance of a Senior Innovation Officer. There may also be potential collaboration with scientists in the Green Solutions Division within the Directorate.

You will be part of the ESA Φ-lab. Our mission is to accelerate the future of Earth observation (EO) by embracing disruptive innovation and acting as a catalyst for disruptive/transformative innovation in the sector.

Our vision is to become an “EO innovation hub”, connecting EO with a growing ecosystem of disruptive and transformative innovation, encompassing AI, ML, quantum computing, edge computing, metamaterials, photonics, etc. Many of the challenges posed by new technologies still need to be tackled at the scientific, application and capability levels to deliver the maximum value from satellite-derived EO assets for our climate, society and economy. The Φ-lab will bring together early career and senior researchers from a variety of disciplines across EO and disruptive/transformative innovation to help develop innovative EO solutions.

We offer:

• a stimulating multinational, interdisciplinary and open work environment;
• access to high-performance computing infrastructure and unparalleled EO and technology expertise;
• a unique opportunity to work on innovative solutions to address global challenges;
• the freedom and focus you need to conduct creative research while making an impact on ESA’s strategy;
• a wide network of relationships and collaboration with top academia, industry and research centres;
• the opportunity to contribute to the Φ-lab strategy and activities.

You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: https://www.esa.int/

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

The objective of this Research Fellowship is to contribute to a deeper, theory-driven understanding of the global Earth observation (EO) market and industry, identifying its structural dynamics, competitive landscape and long-term potential. This analysis will serve as a critical input for the development of a robust, evidence-based EO commercialisation strategy. The activity will also aim to bridge cutting-edge macroeconomic theory with technological innovation and EO applications, taking inspiration from the pioneering work of Nobel laureates Paul Romer and William Nordhaus. In the course of the Fellowship, you will explore new models that integrate EO data and advanced technologies such as AI into macroeconomic and socio-economic frameworks.

Main research topics:

• conduct a global macroeconomic analysis of the global Earth observation market and industry, grounded in solid theoretical foundations;
• assess structural competitiveness, fragilities and resilience across different segments of the EO value chain;
• identify key demand aggregation dynamics and emerging commercial opportunities in the EO ecosystem;
• provide a strategic framework to support the development of an EO commercialisation strategy based on analytical evidence, rather than intuition-driven approaches;
• leverage and expand on the economic models of Romer (endogenous growth and innovation) and Nordhaus (climate economics and integration of environmental externalities into macro models);
• explore new macroeconomic frameworks that integrate Earth observation data and AI technologies to model long-run growth, innovation and sustainable development;
• investigate the role of EO and digital technologies in addressing socio-economic disparities and regional development imbalances;
• support cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with the Head of the Invest Office in the ESA Φ-lab, and other members of the Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes and ESA as a whole.

Within your application, please provide a research proposal (no more than five pages) answering the following questions:

• What are the key structural challenges and opportunities within the global Earth observation (EO) market that your research aims to address?
• How can ESA boost the market demand aggregation dynamics for the EO industry?
• Which economic theories and analytical frameworks will you apply to assess the competitiveness and long-term viability of the EO industry?
• How will your work build upon and expand the insights of Nobel laureates Paul Romer and William Nordhaus?
• How do you plan to integrate advanced technologies such as AI with Earth observation data in macroeconomic analysis?
• What is your chosen innovative approach to studying EO commercialisation, and how does it differ from current practice?
• In what ways will your research help shape a robust, evidence-based commercialisation strategy for Earth observation?
• Why is this research important for the future of Earth observation in both economic and societal terms?
• How can Earth observation contribute to addressing socio-economic disparities, and how will your work explore this potential?

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In particular, you will:

• undertake advanced research activities exploring and expanding the use of EO technologies and disruptive and transformative innovations. Research may cover a wide range of innovative topics, including:
  • exploration of innovative methodologies and technologies;
  • development of novel methods, new technology implementations, (e.g. ML models), and/or high-level products;
• support the definition and implementation of rapid prototyping activities, research sprints and open challenges of innovative EO solutions addressing upcoming lab activities and wider strategy;
• engage with the innovation ecosystem to promote the uptake of new techniques and capture the latest developments in EO and disruptive/transformative innovation;
• publish the research project outcomes in high-impact journals;
• drive collaboration within the Φ-lab community and ESA internal teams to promote the uptake of these new techniques and solutions;
• contribute to the Φ-lab strategy, activities and outreach on disruptive innovations for EO;
• maintain a continuous dialogue with the scientific community, including major international programmes and initiatives in the field;
• support the Φ-lab’s daily activities and research network of ESA Graduate Trainees, National Trainees, Interns, Visiting Professors, Experts and Researchers, as applicable;
• conduct a macroeconomic analysis of the global EO market, leveraging theoretical models and real-world data to identify structural dynamics, competitive positioning and long-term trends;
• integrate advanced EO data and disruptive technologies (e.g. AI/ML) into novel macroeconomic and socio-economic modelling frameworks;
• develop data-driven insights and strategic inputs to inform the design of a robust EO commercialisation strategy, grounded in empirical research rather than intuition-based decision-making.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

You should have recently completed, or be close to completion of a PhD in a related technical or scientific discipline. Preference will be given to applications submitted by candidates within five years of receiving their PhD. In particular for this position, the following is required:

PhD in the fields of economics with a thesis subject relevant to the description of the tasks outlined above.

Education in related fields such as data science, AI, computer science, machine learning, space engineering, Earth system science, climate, etc. would be an asset.

Additional requirements

In addition to your CV and your motivation letter, please prepare a research proposal of no more than 5 pages. This proposal should be uploaded to the "additional documents" field of the "application information" section.

You should have:

• Sound knowledge of themes of interest, such as EO, AI, ML, quantum computing, ICT revolution technologies and edge computing.
• The ability to think outside the box and explore new avenues, with natural curiosity and a passion for new subjects and research areas.
• The interest and ability to share knowledge with other ESA organisational units.

You should also have good interpersonal and communication skills and should be able to work in a multi-cultural environment, both independently and as part of a team. Your motivation, overall professional perspective and career goals will also be explored during the later stages of the selection process.