Sweden a member of SKAO – opens up new opportunities in radio astronomy

The Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), is an observatory with two radio astronomy telescopes under construction in Australia and South Africa. SKAO is operated as an inter-state organisation, with its head office in the United Kingdom.

Sweden is now one of the countries that have signed the convention on membership of SKAO. The membership means that researchers in Sweden will be able to make radio astronomy observations with unique resolution. The telescopes will make it possible to discover even the weakest signals from, for example, the early universe. This may provide new knowledge on how galaxies are formed, the emergence of life in the universe, conditions on planets beyond our solar system, dark matter, and gravitational waves.

Sweden has already been participating in the construction of the observatory. We contribute highly technological components and advanced electronics, and receive the greatest ‘industrial return’ of all the countries contributing to SKAO’s construction. The work is carried out in collaboration between Chalmers University of Technology and SKAO, and is funded by the Swedish Research Council and Vinnova.

“This will be a fantastic research infrastructure, which is now nearing completion. The funds invested by Sweden are providing good returns – which shows our prominent position within radio technology and digital technology. The facility will provide great opportunities in the future for Swedish researchers and research,” says Katarina Bjelke, Director General of the Swedish Research Council.

The Government is expected to ratify the convention in spring.

Read news from Chalmers about the membership External link.

SKAO´s webbsite External link.