UK invests big in SKA

2 April 2014 News

UK science minister, David Willetts, announced that the United Kingdom will provide a funding boost for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project to the tune of £100 million.

Emphasising just how big a deal the SKA is to the world’s scientific community, Willetts declared upon announcing the investment that “After the International Space Station and the Large Hadron Collider the world’s next great science project is the Square Kilometre Array.

He also illustrated the kingdom’s long-view approach to science by saying that “Investment in science is a crucial part of this government’s long-term economic plan. It’s about investing in our future, helping grow new industries and create more jobs – and that will mean more financial security for people across the country.”

This represents a major investment in the SKA, whose first phase of construction has been cost-capped at €650M. Under the current schedule for the project, funding for construction of Phase 1 is due to be confirmed by 2016 with the start of construction expected in 2018 and early science expected to start in 2020.

The UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) also confirmed that it is investing £19 million over the next four years in the SKA project, made up of a capital investment in ‘big data’ of £11 million and a further £2 million a year in the ongoing core programme.

Further reading:

From the editor's desk: Pricing surge reshapes engineering reality
Technews Publishing News
The recent and continuing surge in memory prices has become more than a supply-chain story confined to global semiconductor markets. We have watched in disbelief as the ASP of memory has risen by over ...

Read more...

---

Siemens democratises EDA software access
News
This collaboration will provide streamlined access to advanced electronic design automation software for European semiconductor innovation.

Read more...

---

Components distribution: A promising trend
News
The European electronic components market returned to solid growth in Q1, gaining 16,9%, with broad, but uneven, momentum across the region.

Read more...

---

New appointment for Links Field team
Links Field Networks News
Links Field Networks is excited to welcome Jarrod Hutton to the company as a technical sales representative, bringing a powerful combination of technical expertise, creativity, and a genuine passion for innovation.

Read more...

---

Solar skills empower Alexandra youth
News
To support developing renewable energy skills, Yellow Door Energy launched YDE Lumen30, a programme that trained 30 young people from Alexandra township in Johannesburg.

Read more...

---

Advancing hydrogen mobility in South Africa
News
The hydrogen refueller was developed using South African engineering expertise and complies with 42 international and local standards.

Read more...

---

RE+ South Africa 2026: From strategy to execution
News
Taking place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 02 to 04 June 2026, this new addition to South Africa’s energy landscape introduces a focused commercial and industrial energy event within a proven exhibition platform.

Read more...

---

Africa Energy Indaba announces 2027 dates
News
Following the continued success and growing global impact of the Africa Energy Indaba, organisers have announced the dates for the 19th edition of the Africa Energy Indaba 2027.

Read more...

---

RS South Africa named master distributor for the Arduino UNO Q
RS South Africa News
RS South Africa announced that it has been named Master Distributor for the Arduino UNO Q SBC platform across South Africa and the broader African region.

Read more...

---

Engineering in a world that cannot assume connectivity
Technews Publishing Editor's Choice News
Across industrial automation, networking, and defence systems, engineers are rediscovering the importance of resilience and autonomy in an increasingly connected world.

Read more...

---