18 months after RadioNet started the management and the task leaders reported to an independent reviewer appointed by the European Commission on the progress made in the different RadioNet activities, such as Transnational Access, Joint Research Activities or Networking. While this is a requirement to obtain continued funding, RadioNet viewed this as a welcome opportunity to see where we are and where we are heading.
In the first 18 months of the project RadioNet has supported 26 technical and scientific events including Symposia of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). A total of 246 individual future users of the RadioNet infrastructures were trained. More than 680 European users used, free of charge, the Transnational access programme to the RadioNet infrastructures, performing 142 scientific projects exceeding the expected contracted access of 28%. The technical development activities made important steps in the design of state-of-the-art receivers for sub/mm and cm wavelengths.
On October 29th 2018 RadioNet activity leaders and management met in Brussels for an all day face-to-face evaluation session. In an overall assessment of RadioNet activities so far the evaluator praised our efforts and stated that the “Project has delivered exceptional results with significant immediate or potential impact.” He noted in particular the “well orchestrated and very efficient way” of collaboration of our consortium. He concluded that “Transnational access and training activities are the well-established and strongest parts of the RadioNet success story. To carry them over to the coming framework programme is essential for a sustainable development of the respective European scientific community.”
Thank you to everybody who has been helping to make RadioNet a success.
Prof. Dr. J. Anton Zensus – RadioNet Coordinator
RadioNet is a cooperation of 27 leading research institutions in Europe and beyond in the field of radio astronomy. These institutions operate world-leading astronomical infrastructures: telescopes, laboratories, computing facilities and archives. They also employ staff with the necessary skills and expertise for the technical and scientific exploitation of these facilities.