Helena Correia Mendonça, Principal Consultant, has writen an opinion article for Jornal Económico on the strategic importance of Earth Observation and the need for a strong legal framework to support the development of a secure, innovative and competitive sector.

In the article, she analyses Portugal’s growing position in this field, at a time when satellite data is playing an increasingly relevant role in European defence, the green and digital transitions, and in supporting public policies, business and societal resilience.

The article highlights the sector’s technological evolution, from the miniaturisation of satellites to the use of artificial intelligence and cloud computing, as well as the expansion of both civil and defence markets, underlining the relevance of initiatives such as the New Space Portugal Agenda.

At the same time, it identifies the main legal challenges associated with the use of Earth Observation data, including dual-use issues, personal data protection, intellectual property, export controls and new European requirements on security, cybersecurity, resilience and sustainability. Advocating a responsible and proactive regulatory approach, the article emphasises that legal certainty is a critical factor for trust, investment attraction and the consolidation of the national ecosystem, pointing to the combination of technological excellence and robust legal engineering as key to positioning Portugal as a reference partner in the European and global Earth Observation landscape.

• This article was published in the print edition of Jornal Económico on 19 December 2025.