The ESO was set up in 1962 with the aim of promoting European cooperation in the field of astronomy and operating the largest infrastructure of ground-based telescopes, and is today considered the most productive observatory in the world.
ESO is funded by the following Member States: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, together with Chile as the host country and Australia as a strategic partner. It is currently the workplace for around 700 people, including full-time employees, scientists and engineers from various geographies and nationalities.
On July 10, 1990, Portugal signed a Cooperation Agreement with ESO, which guaranteed its observer status and defined a transition process so that, within 10 years, it could become a full Member State. In 1999, Portugal applied to join as a Member State, and Portugal's accession agreement was approved in December 2000.
As a member state, Portugal contributes to the annual operating costs of the infrastructure (around 1.2% of the overall budget). Portugal's participation in ESO has given Portuguese research teams access to an observation infrastructure of the highest quality, and to scientific participation in the fields of Astronomy and Astrophysics, which has made a decisive contribution to the growth of the scientific community, particularly doctoral graduates, and to its internationalization.
Since 1990, dozens of Portuguese researchers have obtained observation time on ESO telescopes. An average of 1,800 proposals for access to observing time are submitted each year by researchers from all countries. In numbers, observation time by national researchers is above the national contribution percentage.
Advanced human resources training
In May 2001, Portugal and the ESO signed a human resources training protocol with the aim of promoting the advanced training of young Portuguese graduates through specialized internship Studentships awarded by the FCT. Under this protocol, until the end of 2012, the Innovation Agency was responsible for implementing the internship program, selecting candidates and monitoring the work carried out by the scholarship holders.
A new protocol was signed between the FCT and ESO in 2013, transferring all the previous competencies relating to this program to the FCT.
The internships, which last at least one year and can be renewed for a further year, are selected according to technological fields, paying special attention to the project, the teaching framework and the future placement of the scholarship holders in innovation-oriented Portuguese companies.
Industrial participation
In addition to the scientific benefit and advanced training in their country, as full members of ESO, all Member States have the possibility of obtaining industrial benefit, contributing to increasing the competitiveness and technological advancement of their industry.
The ESO is considered to be an extremely competitive and demanding technological market within the 16 member states that make up the organization.
Information on ESO's procurement service and associated processes can be found on the official website. For any questions or clarifications on the industrial link between Portugal and ESO, please contact the ILO.
-
State
Active
-
Website
-
Contact
Council Paulo J.V. Garcia
Filipa Coelho
Industrial Liaison Officer (ILO) José Antão
-
Share
