International agreement sees Australia directly assist SKA project

Science and Innovation Minister Troy Buswell today congratulated the Western Australian-based International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) for signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the UK-based headquarters for the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, the SKA Program Development Office. 

Under the MOU, ICRAR will be the key partner in developing the conceptual designs for the high performance computing and data management systems for the world's biggest radio astronomy project, the SKA.

"The SKA is an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to collaborate globally on a project that will not only revolutionise radio astronomy, but many other fields of discovery and endeavour," Mr Buswell said.

"The MOU between ICRAR and the international SKA office will see WA's expertise in information and communications technology directly assist the international SKA project.     

"Under the MOU, ICRAR will develop the conceptual designs for the high performance computing and data management capabilities for the international project.

"This announcement is another important step to expand Australia's contribution to the $3billion radio astronomy project as well as advance our bid to host the SKA project in WA's Mid-West." 

Premier's Research Fellow in Radio Astronomy and ICRAR director Peter Quinn said the agreement was an important step for the centre and the SKA project. 

"This agreement presents an exciting opportunity for ICRAR to demonstrate WA's science and technology capabilities," Professor Quinn said.

"In partnership with CSIRO, the Australian SKA Coordination Committee and international SKA partners, the centre will be responsible for joint development of the technology to store and process the large amounts of data that will be produced from the SKA project.

"ICRAR will also seek to develop collaborative relationships with other radio astronomy related research organisations and industry partners around the world."

The Minister said the State Government had committed $20million towards the establishment of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research.  

Australia and Southern Africa are in the running to host the SKA, a global initiative to design and build a radio telescope that will be up to 50 times more sensitive than current technologies.  A decision on the location of the SKA project is expected in 2012.