This year's Copernicus Masters competition is now open. With prizes totalling more than €1.5 million, the chance to design and launch a small satellite mission and much more, Europe's leading competition for the novel use of Earth observation has never been so impressive.

The vast amounts of data produced by Europe's Copernicus environmental monitoring programme and its Sentinel satellites is leading to an ever-increasing number of products and applications for a widening array of businesses.

Since 2011, ESA with the support of Germany's AZO has organised the annual Copernicus Masters competition to inspire and help entrepreneurs bring their innovations to market.

It is the largest competition for the commercial use of Earth observation and awards outstanding ideas, applications and business concepts that make use of bespoke information in everyday life.