Durham businesses have the chance to reach for the stars when it comes to building the largest ground-based telescope in the world, the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT).
Some 40 businesses have signed-up to the sell-out event at Durham County Council’s NETPark (North East Technology Park) on June 21.
Experts will be on-hand to outline potential contract opportunities for what is planned to be the biggest eye on the sky.
The telescope is an eleven-year construction project proposed to be designed and manufactured in Europe and built in Chile.
It will have enormous global impact by enabling astronomers to probe and understand a whole range of phenomena, from Earth-like planets around nearby stars to the origin and development of the most distant galaxies at the edge of the observable universe.
E-ELT will be the biggest optical and infrared telescope in the world, the size of five classic London buses. The main mirror, nearly 40m wide and made up of 800 individual segments, will have a field of view one third the width of the full moon.
Stewart Watkins, managing director of Business Durham, said: “One of the key aims of the project is to ensure that UK industry wins contracts for construction, including the dome and other systems and instruments. It is a real opportunity for businesses here in County Durham to be a part of it all. Experts will be available to showcase just what is on offer and how they can be involved.
“Already, some €10 million worth of contracts have been awarded in this country and new contracts are expected to be worth hundreds of millions.”
The session has been organised by Business Durham, the Science and Technology Facilities Council and UK Trade and Investment.
The North East Technology Park, where world class science and technology companies come together, recently held a highly successful Spacetech 12 event, looking at other business opportunities in the space industry.
Cllr Neil Foster, Cabinet member for regeneration and economic development who is speaking at the event, said: “This is a real opportunity for businesses in County Durham to reach for the stars. It is absolutely staggering to hear what this telescope will be capable of and this event promises to be very informative.”
Bryan Little from the Science and Technology Facilities Council, added “The project development is currently in final stages of preparation for the release of some major packages of work. These include the main structure, the dome and optics-related support and control mechanisms. There is a chance for County Durham businesses to be involved in the supply chain.”
David Coppock, North East Regional Director for UK Trade and Investment, said: “This is a unique and excellent opportunity for County Durham businesses to be part of a truly global product. I’m delighted to hear the event is proving extremely popular and look forward to hearing about County Durham businesses being awarded contracts in the future.”
Businesses wanting to sign-up to future events should register as part of the virtual innovation network, NETPark NET at www.uknetpark.net
Businesses can also register for tender opportunities with the STFC on http://www.stfc.ac.uk/19376.aspx
Programme approval for construction of the E-ELT has been granted in principle, but will not commence until provisional votes by four ESO member states, including the UK, have been confirmed and 90% of the funding required has been secured. See the latest press releases from STFC and ESO here for further details: http://www.stfc.ac.uk/News+and+Events/39166.aspx
http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1225/