Milestone
The CTAO Becomes a European Research Infrastructure Consortium
January 8, 2025
Gamma-ray GroupOn January 7, 2025, the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) was officially recognized as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) by the European Commission.
This milestone accelerates the construction of the world’s most advanced gamma-ray observatory, enabling rapid progress toward groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
The CTAO ERIC unites international partners to build over 60 telescopes across sites in Spain and Chile, with initial configurations expected to operate by 2026. This recognition strengthens the Observatory’s legal framework, attracting talent and investment while ensuring its sustainability as a global research leader.
The Spanish community, comprising the institutions CERES-UAB, CIEMAT, IAA-CSIC, IAC, ICCUB, ICE-CSIC, IFAE, IFT-UAM, IPARCOS-UCM, PIC, UAH, and UJA, has made a significant contribution to the construction and commissioning of the various components of the observatory, as well as to the development of software and the definition of the project’s scientific objectives.
More information on the CTAO press release and on the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities press release .
The Commission Implementing Decision is available on the Official Journal of the European Union .
Event
ASAPP2025 Conference Organized by the Gamma-ray Group at IFAE
May 15, 2025
The Advances in Space Astroparticle Physics (ASAPP2025) conference , bringing together approximately 100 scientists to discuss cutting-edge technologies for particle detection in space, is taking place this week (May 12–16) in Sant Feliu de Guíxols (Girona).
The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) includes Keerthana Lathika, Essna Ghose, Benjamin Hauptman, Giulio Lucchetta, and Javier Rico (Chair). The Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC) includes Javier Rico.
Keerthana Lathika, Luis Fariña and Essna Ghose will present the results of their recent work during the conference.