The Cagliari Astronomical Observatory remains a second-level structure of INAF.
This was decided by the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF), thus preserving and ensuring the statutory nature of the Structure of the various sites.
“A positive conclusion has been reached in a matter that for months also saw the Region actively involved,” says the Planning Councillor, Raffaele Paci. “Now, more than ever, important prospects open up for the future of the Observatory and, more generally, for a sector in which this administration has shown strong belief. I want to thank President D’Amico, who since taking office in October has been committed to defending the prerogatives and autonomy of the Sardinia Observatory.”
The Board has thus decided to grant the statutory nature of Research Structure to the two current sites, the Institute of Radio Astronomy in Bologna, which manages the Medicina and Noto radio telescopes, and the Cagliari Astronomical Observatory, which manages the new large SRT (Sardinia Radio Telescope). At the same time, the Board has decided to establish a Scientific Unit for Radio Astronomy.
Over the years, Sardinia has invested about 20 million euros in the Astronomical Observatory. The construction of the large SRT radio telescope was funded in 1997 by the Ministry as part of the Plans to strengthen the scientific and technological network in depressed areas, and the Region has made it one of the strategic points of development.
“The positive conclusion of this matter proves we were right,” emphasizes the Vice President of the Region. “We were not defending localism but working to ensure that autonomy was not diminished in any way, hoping for coordination rather than merging to leverage respective expertise.” These are sectors that we are strengthening and relaunching through the intelligent strategy S3 Sardinia, the Smart Specialisation Strategy, which focuses heavily on the Aerospace sector to achieve a fundamental step: to ensure that basic research becomes an opportunity for employment, wealth, and social growth for our Island.”