SKA Observatory opens Call for Portuguese software vendors

The SKA Observatory (SKAO) has opened Call to find Portuguese suppliers of software and computer solutions that guarantee the implementation of the two largest and most complex radio telescope networks. Applications are open until September 17, and those interested should register by September 10 to attend the information session on Call, to be held on September 13.

Call is aimed at Portuguese companies, universities or research centers interested in developing services and infrastructures that will be used as the basis for the software that will guarantee the Observatory's operation, namely services of analysis, design, construction, coding, testing, verification, validation, implementation, launch, maintenance, debugging and documentation of software and computer systems, among others.

The winners of Call will have to ensure the services from December 2021 until the end of the construction and installation process of the antennas in July 2029. The radio telescope networks will feature antennas that will occupy one million square meters of surface area for data collection. The SKAO estimates the total cost of building the two telescopes, starting operations and associated business enablement functions to be 2 billion euros during the period 2021-2030.

Portugal is one of the seven founding countries of SKAO whose first mission is to build the two largest radio telescopes in the world with sensitivity, angular resolution and survey speed far superior to current instruments. The two telescopes will be installed in South Africa and Australia, the first consisting of 133 steerable antennas with a diameter of 15 meters, and the second having 131,072 periodic fixed recording antennas.

During the pre-construction phase, Portuguese participation was represented by ENGAGE SKA Portugal (Enabling Green E-Science for the Square Kilometre Array), a national radio astronomy research infrastructure supported by the Portuguese National Roadmap for Research Infrastructures (RNIE).

More information about the SKA Observatory's Call here.

Photo: ©SKAO