19 June 2024

SKA Observatory approves RISE as test facility

The SKA (Square Kilometre Array) Observatory has officially acknowledged RISE Research Institutes of Sweden as an approved test facility, and the two organisations have signed a collaboration agreement.

"This agreement allows us to be part of the amazing work of shaping the future for radio astronomy,” says Monika Fuller, Vice President of the Vehicle and Automation Department at RISE.

SKAO

The SKAO is a next-generation radio astronomy-driven Big Data facility that will revolutionise our understanding of the Universe. RISE’s new methods will enable the detection of very weak electromagnetic emissions to ensure correct observations from space. 

RISE

RISE has developed instrument-specific processing software that can traceably detect weak emissions from electrical and electronic equipment. These emissions pollute radio astronomy observations by interfering with the exceptionally faint signals from space. 

Collaboration agreement

“Becoming a SKAO-approved test facility is very important to RISE as it allows us to support different suppliers to the project to ensure they meet the requirements from SKAO,” says Monika Fuller, Vice President of the Vehicle and Automation Department at RISE.

“To further strengthen our partnership, we signed a collaboration agreement between SKAO and RISE. The SKAO-approved test facility status and the collaboration agreement allows us to be part of the amazing work of shaping the future for radio astronomy and gaining a better understanding of the Universe.”

Big Science Sweden congratulates RISE on this recognition and the new agreement with SKAO!

Read the full press release here

RISE is part of the Big Science Sweden network, which connects Swedish industry, universities and research institutes with international research organisations.

SKAO

  • The SKAO (SKA Observatory) is an intergovernmental organisation bringing together nations across the world. Its mission is to build and operate cutting-edge radio telescopes that will transform our understanding of the Universe and deliver societal benefits through global collaboration and innovation.
  • The SKAO’s Global Headquarters are in the UK, while its two telescopes are being built at radio-quiet sites in South Africa and Australia.
  • The SKAO's telescopes (SKA-Mid, comprising 197 mid-frequency antennas, and SKA-Low, comprising 131,072 low-frequency antennas) will be the two most advanced radio telescopes on Earth. Together with other state-of-the-art research facilities, they will explore the unknown frontiers of science and deepen our understanding of key processes, including the formation and evolution of galaxies, fundamental physics in extreme environments and the origins of life.
  • Once in operation, the SKAO will be one global observatory operating two telescopes across three continents on behalf of its member states and partners.