Maurice Barbieri, July 29, 2026
The 2026 EUROGI General Board Meeting was held on May 21, 2026, in Benidorm (Spain). SOGI was represented there by its two co-presidents, Zilmil Bordoloi and Maurice Barbieri.
During the administrative portion of the meeting, two new members were welcomed: the University of Valencia and the University of Maribor. Additionally, Bruce McCormack, Domen Mongus, and Zilmil Bordoloi were elected to the executive committee. The 2025 financial statements, showing a surplus of 1,129 euros, were approved, as was the revised 2026 budget, which shows a deficit due to the new membership dues structure.
President Alejandro Guinea then gave a very positive assessment of the year 2025, highlighting several key areas from 2025: internal governance, follow-up on meetings, the development of the network of contacts, the strengthening of institutional visibility, webinars, participation in European consultations, and the development of the “Women in GI” initiative.
Outlook for 2026
Proposal to Create EUROGI National Groups
The proposal to create EUROGI national groups in countries where no established national association exists was the subject of a debate. The discussion focused on the organizational suitability of these chapters, the need to avoid any competition with existing associations, the advisability of setting a nominal membership fee, and the importance of ensuring inclusion and the continuity of local engagement.
The Assembly decided to proceed with the proposal regarding national chapters. A final document will be drafted and distributed; the bylaws or rules of procedure will be revised to account for this structure and its membership fees; a consultation will be conducted to identify interested countries and individuals; and the conditions for participation, as well as the associated benefits compared to regular membership, will be clarified.
Data Quality, Technological Advances, and Projects
Activities and projects related to data quality, technological innovation, and project development were presented and discussed. The discussion focused on the integration of spatial data, geospatial artificial intelligence and data analysis, applications of 3D models, as well as sector-specific use cases.
A project proposal in collaboration with the University of Maribor, aimed at supporting decision-making through geospatial AI, was also presented. Participants took note of the proposal’s progress as well as the challenges associated with preparing for and participating in grant calls.
Educational Outreach and Skills Development
In the area of education and capacity building, it was agreed to maintain and expand the portfolio of training courses and webinars, as well as to strengthen EUROGI’s educational dimension. It was also noted that the future network of national chapters could contribute to the dissemination and support of educational activities.
