The report "Public-Private Geospatial Collaborations: Exploring Potential Partnership Models" from the World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC) guides WGIC Members and the industry at large to pursue PPP models whose time has come.

Amersfoort, The Netherlands, July 26, 2021 – The World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC), a Global not-for-profit Trade Association of Private Sector Companies working in the geospatial ecosystem, has released a new report, " Public-Private Geospatial Collaborations: Exploring Potential Partnership Models."

WGIC and its Members invested in understanding PPPs

Governments across the globe are taking advantage of advancements in geospatial technologies benefiting the economy, environment, and society. Governments, however, continue to face constant challenges such as – a rapidly changing technology ecosystem, evolving business models, rising debt levels, and the need for increased investments towards sustainability and climate change programs.

Leading organizations such as the World Bank and the National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC) under The US Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) are also working on this subject. The use of PPP models to deliver e-services related to cadaster, land administration, geospatial infrastructure, data, and services are gaining increased visibility. WGIC is, therefore, helping create greater understanding and awareness of PPPs among National Mapping Agencies and the commercial sector for piloting and implementing fit-for-purpose PPP models. 

The WGIC PPP Committee organized consultative roundtables in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America to help gather views from a range of stakeholders around the world. It also engaged closely with the World Bank and NGAC during the process.

WGIC PPP Report - A prescriptive guide for the industry

This WGIC report examines PPPs' history and context, identifies opportunities, and challenges, and outlines specific business-model structures and examples of what the geospatial community is doing to implement PPPs. This report is WGIC’s first step in geospatial PPP implementation, which, hopefully, results in potential PPP business opportunities for our Members with various governments keen to take this path.

Key highlights of the report include:

• Exploring twelve PPP business models of relevance to the geospatial industry; 
• Issuing high-level guidelines to stakeholders towards developing a good PPP; 
• Presenting seven geospatial PPP use-cases adopted from the NGAC work that also showcases the work of WGIC Members, including, Esri, TomTom, and Vexcel Imaging; and 
• Articulating recommendations and next steps related to PPPs by WGIC. 

WGIC work on PPPs to create significant business Opportunities

Ken Mooyman, President of WGIC, congratulating the PPP Committee, said, "This particular work on PPPs from WGIC, inspired by the work of the World Bank and the US NGAC is significant. This report will facilitate the exchange of knowledge within the geospatial industry and National Mapping and Cadastral Organizations around the world on PPP models. The next level of work that WGIC aims to undertake will ultimately provide our Members with significant business opportunities, and help various governments accelerate their digital transformation journey, thereby providing benefits to their citizens and societies."

WGIC PPP Committee Chair Willy Govender on this occasion said, "The work of the WGIC on PPPs identifies potential sectors in the geospatial industry to target over the next few years, where we can explore and take forward different commercial models.  As we go deeper into the digital future, partnerships between the Public and Commercial sectors will help alleviate many challenges in our society. Geospatial infrastructure, data, and knowledge have consistently proven vital to decision making, analysis, and prediction, and WGIC wants to empower the industry players and public sector customers on possible PPP procurement models to foster greater collaboration where the benefit is mutual."