On January 29, 2020, in the boardroom of the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine professor Natalia Kussul made a speech «Formation of the Ukrainian segment of the European Research Area in Earth Observation». The Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine approved the report by the program ERA-Planet (SMURBS and GEOEssential) and supported the initiation of the state program of satellite monitoring of economic indicators and sustainable development. The GEO Ukrainian segment combines science, higher education and innovative business.