Apply
Explore what’s next in geospatial technology, tackle complex interoperability challenges, and prove new approaches in the real world.
Testbeds Explore. Pilots Prove.
Apply Open Standards
Apply is where members collaborate to explore new approaches, validate emerging standards, and demonstrate what’s possible through funded, real-world initiatives. Each project generates evidence and experience that strengthen standards, advance implementation, and guide what comes next.
Testbeds
Our largest collaborative initiatives, Testbeds typically run for a year and bring together sponsors such as NASA, ESA, NGA, and NRCan with industry and academic partners to tackle complex geospatial challenges. From AI-ready data and digital twins to interoperability and low Earth orbit, Testbeds explore what’s possible and develop practical solutions for the broader community.
Pilots
Pilots are shorter, focused initiatives, typically three to six months, that demonstrate concepts, candidate standards, and emerging technologies in operational settings. Whether building on a Testbed or standing on their own, Pilots prove new approaches in real-world environments and help move promising ideas toward broader adoption.
How Funding Works
OGC works with members and sponsors to identify important geospatial challenges and turn them into focused Testbeds and Pilots. Sponsors fund the work, and OGC members have opportunities to participate, develop solutions, and test them together.
Abstract In. Concrete Out.
We help sponsors turn broad challenges into clearly defined work that members can take on and deliver.
One Page In. One Page Out.
Short calls and concise responses keep participation fast, agile, and accessible.
We Handle the Procurement
OGC manages the funding and contracting process, making it easier for organizations of all sizes to participate in funded work.
Everyone Has a Place in the Room
Smaller organizations gain access to meaningful R&D, while larger organizations help shape emerging technologies and understand where the market is heading.
Participation Doesn’t Limit Future Opportunities
Taking part in a Testbed or Pilot does not limit an organization’s ability to compete for future work.
Resources
Explore tools, data, and publications that support OGC’s innovation, and standardization efforts.
Get Involved
Become a Sponsor
Fund innovation. Share risk. Advance solutions.
As an OGC sponsor, you help define the challenges that Testbeds and Pilots take on, bringing members together to explore emerging technologies, test new approaches, and advance interoperability.
Benefits include:
- Sharing the cost and risk of innovation
- Exploring emerging technologies before broader adoption
- Working with a vendor-neutral community of technical experts
- Helping shape best practices and emerging standards
- Testing approaches with organizations across government, industry, and academia
- Building solutions that can work across technologies and systems
Interested in sponsoring a Testbed or Pilot?
Become a Participant
Turn ideas into solutions alongside experts from across the geospatial community.
OGC Members can participate directly in funded Testbeds and Pilots to:
- Access funded technical work and reduce internal development costs
- Develop and test new technologies and approaches
- Build relationships with sponsors and other collaborators
- Help shape standards through hands-on implementation
- Raise their visibility through their contributions to OGC projects
Become a Technical Expert
Put your expertise to work across OGC projects.
OGC’s Technical Expert Pool is a curated group of qualified individuals who bring specialized skills and experience to Testbeds, Pilots, and other OGC initiatives.
As a Technical Expert, you can:
- Support funded innovation projects
- Contribute specialized technical expertise
- Work with experts across sectors and domains
- Help develop, test, and improve emerging solutions and standards
Reports
Every testbed and pilot produces a report — read what came out of past initiatives before proposing your own.
Open Calls & Requests
See what’s currently open for participation, and what’s coming.
A trusted source for geospatial terms and identifiers.
OGC RAINBOW Implementation
OGC Rainbow explored how geospatial standards need to evolve in a machine-to-machine world. It introduced concepts such as Building Blocks and Profiles—modular, machine-readable components designed to improve interoperability and support automated systems.
We are now moving this work into implementation. Documentation, outputs, and ongoing development are available at the link below.
Continuous Improvement Through Collaboration
What members learn while applying a standard feeds directly back into
Build — sharpening the next round of specifications.