Paola coordinates the NEREUSflagship project DORIS_NET, an FP-7 funded CA (full title: Downstream Observatory organised by Regions active In Space – Network). The objective of this project is to pave the way for anchoring Copernicus downstream sector in regional and local economies and a stronger involvement of regional actors. Establishing a network of “Regional Contact Offices” (RCOs) that links European regional and local authorities, service providers and other Copernicus stakeholders across
Europe, the project aims at facilitating the development of Copernicus downstream services at regional level. The idea is to engage more regional actors in a structural dialogue and intra/interregional co-operations in order to maximize the benefits from innovative Copernicus-services which can be exploited for manifold purposes. Bearing in mind the structures and dynamics that have been established within the DORIS_Net Project Paola will define the role of the Copernicus-downstream sector to contribute to research activities within the societal challenges of Horizon2020.