Participation gives UK data access and mission influence, and provides EU with expertise, study findsParticipation in the EU’s Earth observation satellite programme, Copernicus, delivers benefits that even a leading mid-sized power such as the UK could not replicate on its own, a study for the UK government has found. The study also concluded that the programme benefits from UK expertise thanks to the country’s participation. The UK was a full participant in Copernicus when it was a member of the EU, lost access in 2021 after Brexit and then rejoined in 2024 when it also regained access to a spate of EU programmes, including the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.