Position Paper by Dr. Zaffar Sadiq Mohamed-Ghouse, Chair of Policy Committee, World Geospatial Industry Council.

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Introduction: The Case for a Collaborative Approach

Geospatial technology is rapidly evolving, offering powerful tools for national development, infrastructure development, environmental monitoring, and more. While governments are responsible for setting policies that regulate and guide this progress, the private sector is often the primary driver of innovation, implementation, and scalability.

Geospatial data forms the bedrock of geospatial technology and industry. In addition to the government sector, the private sector plays a crucial role in facilitating innovative geospatial data and value-added data products. We are seeing a growing trend of democratization of geospatial data, owing to the expansive use of geospatial data across the sectors of the economy. In this backdrop, the challenge for the consumers of public data is that the data is often stale (long update and validation cycles). The other challenge consumers usually face is that when they provide feedback, institutions often lack the means to integrate customer feedback. This has the clear potential to better align the efforts of the government and private sector.

Policy development has been led by government institutions, with some private sector involvement. With technological change outpacing policy frameworks, the need for proactive, co-designed policies involving the private sector at early stages benefits an inclusive policy. Private sector players are not just implementers or service providers but partners with deep technical expertise and real-world insights. To fully unlock the benefits of geospatial technologies, it is prudent that governments consider embracing the private sector as a co-developer of policy.

The Private Sector’s Critical Role in Policy Development

While government policy rightly prioritizes national security, productivity, governance, and public interest, the private sector contributes essential capabilities that ensure such policies are practical, scalable, and innovation-friendly.

The industry brings:

• Experience with real-world implementation across various markets
• Ability to scale technology rapidly and cost-effectively
• Knowledge of commercialization models and operational constraints
• Insights into global trends and ethical implications of new technologies

Yet, despite being the most impacted by new regulations, the private sector is often consulted as a formality, long after the policy structure is already decided. This leads to misalignment between policy intent and its operational impact.

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) are a clear example. Many PPP initiatives are constrained by outdated policy frameworks that do not reflect the dynamic needs of the industry. While government concerns about security and governance are valid, these must be balanced with flexibility to accommodate innovation and fast-paced deployment models.

Moreover, the private sector can support governments in designing more responsive procurement systems, identifying regulatory blind spots, and helping bridge the digital divide through inclusive technology deployment.

Policy as an Enabler, not a Constraint

For geospatial data and technology to be used effectively and responsibly, policy must evolve from being a reactive tool to a strategic enabler. This involves setting rules and creating an ecosystem supporting responsible innovation, investment, and equitable access.

A well-designed policy should:

• Provide clear guidance without stifling innovation
• Enable cross-border data interoperability and ethical data use
• Support investment from the private sector through certainty and incentives
• Promote accessibility and digital inclusion, especially in underserved regions
• Be adaptive to emerging trends, such as generative AI, privacy concerns, and data ethics

Unlike industries where policy is driven by visible disruptions (e.g., environmental damage in energy sectors), geospatial technology often creates silent disruptions such as privacy risks or unchecked data flows. This makes proactive policy design even more crucial.

Industry associations like the World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC) play a key role in shaping this future by producing policy reports, white papers, and thought leadership that serve as recorded knowledge for industry and government. These resources not only influence bids and business decisions but also help governments understand operational realities.

Building a Framework for Proactive Policy Co-Design

To transition to a more collaborative model of policy-making, certain steps must be taken:

Early and Meaningful Engagement

Governments should involve private sector stakeholders from the beginning of the policy design process, not just at the consultation stage. Industry experts can provide valuable input on feasibility, emerging risks, and technology implications.

Institutionalized Co-Design Mechanisms

Establish permanent joint working groups, policy labs, or innovation councils where government and industry collaborate regularly within the UN-GGIM framework.

Agile and Impact-Driven Communication

Instead of waiting for annual reports, industry should produce short, impactful outputs, such as policy snapshots, podcasts, blogs, and rapid response papers—to address disruptions as they arise. This ensures that the government and the private sector remain aligned and responsive.

Balanced and Ethical Policy for Emerging Technologies

With the rise of tools like Generative AI, there is a growing need for ethical frameworks and balanced regulations. The private sector must take responsibility in shaping these frameworks, ensuring that innovation aligns with public trust and global norms.

Supportive Procurement and Investment Policies

Governments should modernize their procurement models to reflect the speed and complexity of today’s technology landscape. The private sector can assist in crafting these policies, drawing from its experience across global markets.

Conclusion

Let me take this opportunity to highlight a positive example where commercial companies are working closely with policymakers. The development of the new National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), which replaces the NAVD 88 and NAD 83, for the United States is such a case. The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) collaborates closely with the industry in the development. As part of the process, they ask for feedback on how the implementation will work with the new definitions (click here for details).

Policy is not just a regulatory tool. It is a driver of innovation, inclusion, and progress. In the geospatial domain, policy must evolve to reflect the realities of a rapidly transforming industry. Governments cannot and should not shoulder this responsibility alone.

With its deep expertise and practical insights, the private sector must be seen as a co-creator of policy. By engaging the industry early, adopting agile policy-making models, and leveraging platforms like WGIC for global coordination, we can ensure that geospatial policy becomes a tool for empowerment, not constraint.

A collaborative, forward-looking policy framework will enhance national productivity and digital equity and position geospatial technologies as a cornerstone of sustainable development and technological leadership.