What role will the private sector play in remote sensing two decades hence? Over the last twenty years, the private sector’s traditional role as a contractor for government-led projects has evolved markedly. We have witnessed a rapid growth of purely private-sector offerings, from commercial satellites to internet mapping. How will this play out in the future, and what new trends are emerging? These are key questions for the private sector as well as for the government, business, and public communities that increasingly depend on remotely sensed information from the private sector for everyday functions. If the past is evidence, the private sector will be a critical source of innovation, both in technology and business methods. Innovation will allow us to do more for less, making existing systems work more efficiently and introducing new ways to solve society’s toughest problems. This edition of the newsletter is dedicated to exploring the private sector’s future.