[ASA] Australian access to the ESO Technology Development Program

[Michael Murphy]

Dear ASA members,

As Australia's representative on the European Southern Observatory's
(ESO's) Scientific Technical Committee, I'd like to bring to your attention
the following good news about ESO's Technology Development Program (TDP).

In short, Australian institutions and businesses are now eligible to
participate in the TDP after a recent amendment to the Australia–ESO
Strategic Partnership Arrangement. This is a welcome opportunity to further
our community's involvement in ESO instrumentation development.

Further details, from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and
Resources, are included below.

Thanks very much,

Michael.


In 2021, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) Council agreed to invite
Australia to participate in *ESO’s Technology Development Programme (TDP) *for
the remaining duration of the Australia-ESO Strategic Partnership.



ESO’s TDP is funded by the ESO Member States, through their annual
contributions. The Programme supports targeted, focused projects to develop
and deliver future technologies for ESO observing facilities. Past TDP
projects have included new infrared test arrays, cryogenic amplifiers for
advanced ALMA receivers, pulsed lasers for laser guide stars, advanced
reflective coatings, large format IR SAPHIRA detectors, new generation
detector controllers, deformable mirror technology, curved CCD detectors
and planetary camera spectrometer development.



ESO currently allocates around € 2 million to € 4 million per year to the
TDP in the approved Budget and Forward Look period, of which around € 1
million is awarded each year, through competitive tender, in the form of
contracts with ESO’s Member States,



Australia was not previously eligible to participate in ESO’s TDP under the
terms of the *Australia-ESO Strategic Partnership Arrangement, *which
offers limited access rights at a significantly reduced cost compared to
full ESO membership*.*



Following ESO’s generous offer, and productive negotiations between the
Department and ESO in recent months, we are pleased to have executed
Amendments to the *Australia-ESO Strategic Partnership Arrangement* and its
annexed Contract on Wednesday 9 February 2022. This puts on a legal footing
the inclusion of ESO’s TDP among the benefits Australia is eligible to
enjoy under the Arrangement for the remaining years of the Partnership, at
no additional cost to Australia.



The Amendments were signed during a closed virtual event involving the Hon
Melissa Price MP, Minister for Science and Technology, ESO Director
General, Professor Xavier Barcons, and A/g Deputy Secretary Jane Urquhart.



Witnesses supporting the event included ESO Council President, Dr Linda
Tacconi; the five ESO Directors - Dr Claudia Burger, Dr Robert Ivison,
Dr Andreas Kaufer, Dr Michèle Péron, and Dr Adrian Russell; TDP Manager
Norbert Hubin; Head of Cabinet of the Director General and Head of Legal
and International Affairs Laura Comendador Frutos; Head of Division -
Science and Commercialisation Division, Janean Richards; and several
officials from the Minister’s Office and the Department.



A Media Release by the Hon Melissa Price MP, Minister for Science and
Technology, to mark this signing and recognise the special significance of
the ESO offer for Australia, has been published here:

·
https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/price/media-releases/morrison-government-and-european-southern-observatory-grow-technology-opportunities



ESO has also released its own announcement at
https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/BD2kCr81nyt8K65pnt7GV7w?domain=eso.org on Thursday 10 February
2022, including images from the virtual signing event.



The department warmly encourages our astronomy sector to make the most of
this new opportunity and generous ESO offer.



We will provide further information about the Technology Development
Program and how to access it in the near future.



We hope that access to ESO’s TDP will further encourage Australia’s optical
instrumentation groups and their industry partners to find new
opportunities for mutual engagement, explore and build technological
capability, and continue their excellent track record of innovation.
Success in securing and completing projects under the TDP may position
Australia favourably to participate in future ESO instrumentation
consortia, and potentially to commercialise astronomical innovations.



The Australia-ESO Strategic Partnership and ESO’s Technology Development
Programme should not be seen in isolation.



The Australian Government is focused on building a modern Australian
economy through investments in manufacturing capability and boosting
commercialisation of research and ideas. On 1 February 2022, Prime Minister
Morrison announced funding of $1.6 billion for ‘Australia’s Economic
Accelerator’ as part of the government’s $2.2 billion Commercialisation
package. (Further details are available at
https://www.dese.gov.au/zh-hans/node/13157 ). This will help to bring our
institutions and businesses together to commercialise innovations under the
National Manufacturing Priorities, including from their astronomy research
and innovation in the Space sector.



The department encourages Australia’s talented astronomical instrumentation
teams to work with their institutions’ business support teams, to continue
to explore avenues for industry cooperation and commercialisation, to
explore grant and program opportunities and monitor program rounds through
Government programs, including the Entrepreneurs’ Programme and the $1.3
billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative, to build capability, develop
industry partnerships and support the translation of astronomy innovation
to wider applications and national economic benefits.


-- 

Professor Michael T. Murphy,

ARC Future Fellow
<https://www.arc.gov.au/grants/discovery-program/future-fellowships>,
Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing,
Swinburne University of Technology,
Mail H29, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia.
@MTMurphy77 <https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/UlGkCvl1rKi7m4DGLCX5_r7?domain=twitter.com>,
https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/W7FVCwV1vMfGMPD7Vt94IN4?domain=astronomy.swin.edu.au
Pho: +61 (0)3 9214 5818; Mob/Cell: +61 (0)405 214 461.
CRICOS Provider No.: 00111D
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