Australia - New Zealand SKA Industry Capability Directory

NEWS

The SKA project is an unprecedented opportunity for Australia and New Zealand to host one of the most important international science projects of the twenty-first century.

The international project has a target build cost of 1.5 billion euro, and a repair, maintenance and upgrade budget of the order of 150 million euro per annum over 50 years.

For further information see the international SKA project website.

OVERVIEW

Australia and New Zealand are competing with eight countries in southern Africa to attract the AUD2.5 billion-plus international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio astronomy project to the Mid West region of Western Australia. If the Australia – New Zealand bid is successful, this project will deliver the world’s largest radio telescope and supercomputers to the region.

To underpin the SKA bid, the Commonwealth Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the Western Australian Department of Commerce and the New Zealand Government’s Ministry of Economic Development are working collaboratively.

Western Australia is hosting a significant radio astronomy ‘pathfinder’ project as part of the exploration of technologies suitable for the full SKA. An international partnership with funding in excess of AUD100 million, the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) will consist of 36 parabolic dishes in the Mid West region of the state.

ASKAP will be both a test-bed for SKA technology and one of the world’s finest radio telescopes in its own right, able to survey the universe at a rate much faster than existing instruments.

Building such a telescope will require vigorous technological developments in a range of fields including advanced materials, antenna design and manufacture, radio frequency devices, receiver feed systems, digital signal processing, data transport, supercomputing, systems integration and green energy.

INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES

1. ASKAP and MRO Australian Industry Participation Plan

The Australian Industry Participation Plan for the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) and the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) is available online.

The plan outlines how CSIRO provides full, fair and reasonable opportunity to Australian businesses, including small and medium enterprises, to supply goods and services to the ASKAP and MRO projects.

The plan includes information about the scope and intent of CSIRO's procurement policies, particularly in relation to fair competition and value for money. The plan also provides an economic context by describing the broader impact of ASKAP on employment, skilling, regional development, and indigenous involvement.

The plan describes how CSIRO will communicate the opportunities described in the ASKAP Industry Opportunities Register to Australia and New Zealand industry in a timely and appropriate manner and outlines opportunities for industry to engage, find potential partners and access supply chains. Mechanisms are described for longer term industry development to encourage Australian R&D and innovation in SKA-related areas.

The plan describes how CSIRO, consistent with the Commonwealth-State Agreement for an Australian Industry Participation National Framework, attempts to ensure that Australian and New Zealand companies are given maximum opportunity to compete effectively and fairly for involvement in the ASKAP and MRO projects.

2. ASKAP Industry Opportunities Register

The Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) Industry Opportunities Register is available online.

The ASKAP Industry Opportunities Register outlines the ASKAP telescope technology and infrastructure requirements from 2008 to 2011 in areas where industry partnerships are needed. The opportunities for industry will be worth around $70 million.

Through the register, which is updated periodically online, CSIRO keeps industry abreast of its requirements, timelines and budgets during ASKAP's design and construction. This enables industry to identify and plan for opportunities to participate in ASKAP.

The information contained within the register aims to provide helpful guidance to industry to permit broad business planning and facilitate government-industry dialogue. It also serves as a reference for timely information on ASKAP capability needs, enabling industry to provide meaningful contributions to CSIRO's deployment plans and processes.

The Australian SKA Pathfinder telescope will support the Australia - New Zealand bid for the AUD2.5 billion-plus SKA telescope, one of the most significant international science projects ever.

ASKAP will be a world-class, next-generation radio telescope in its own right, using cutting-edge, locally developed technologies and providing a clear demonstration of the innovative capacity of science and industry in the region.

Industry participation will be crucial to delivering and supporting the technologies and infrastructure needed to design, develop and construct ASKAP, and potentially the SKA.

Construction of ASKAP began in 2009, and a decision on who will host the SKA is expected by 2012.

3. Mid West Business Capability and Services Directory

The Mid West Business Capability and Services Directory provides project proponents, developers and major contractors with details of Mid West businesses across a wide range of industry sectors including engineering, earthmoving, construction and associated service and supply industries.

4. Australasian SKA Industry Consortium (ASKAIC)

Australian and New Zealand industry participation in key areas of SKA research and development is promoted through the Australasian SKA Industry Consortium (ASKAIC). As a key industry body, it supports the Australia - New Zealand bid to win the full SKA facility. ASKAIC comprisesover 25 major organisations and companies with capabilities relevant to the SKA. For enquiries about joining ASKAIC, see Contact Us.

5. Western Australian SME Cluster

iVEC, the hub of advanced computing in Western Australia and a member of ASKAIC, leads an industry cluster of SMEs focused on engaging with the SKA community. For information about joining the cluster free of charge and iVEC's industry grant scheme, email iVEC or visit iVEC's website.

6. New Zealand SKA Industry Consortium (NZSKAIC)

NZSKAIC comprises the NZICT Group (representing IT software, hardware, networks, services, education and training providers), New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and the Ministry for Economic Development. The group is developing strategies to enhance New Zealand industry involvement in the SKA project.

PROJECT PROPONENT

The CSIRO, the lead Federal government agency for construction of ASKAP, will issue relevant tender documents for work on ASKAP. Companies that wish to receive notification of ASKAP tenders should register their details on AusTender and specify the keyword ASKAP.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information about industry participation in the ASKAP and SKA projects visit:

• the CSIRO's ASKAP industry page

• the Australian SKA project's industry page

• the New Zealand SKA project’s industry page