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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PRE-EST (Preparatory Phase for the European Solar Telescope)

Teaser

Summary

The inclusion of EST in the ESFRI roadmap in March 2016 favoured the right moment to begin the EST Preparatory Phase. Relevant actions are being taken now in order to provide both, the EST consortium and their funding agencies, with a detailed plan regarding the implementation of EST. In line with this, the key goals of PRE-EST are:
1. to explore possible legal frameworks and related governance schemes that can be used by agencies to jointly establish, construct and operate EST
2. to explore funding schemes and funding sources for EST
3. to compare the two possible sites for EST in the Canary Islands Astronomical Observatories and prepare final site agreements
4. to engage funding agencies and policy makers for a long-term commitment which guarantees the construction and operation phases of the Telescope;
5. to involve industry in the design of EST key elements
6. to enhance and intensify outreach activities and strategic links with national agencies and the user communities of EST.
The main mission of the European Solar Telescope is to closely observe the sun. This close observation of solar processes depends on instrumentation which can deliver data at the smallest scales, with the greatest detail possible. By peering into the physical mechanisms of the solar atmosphere, in unprecedented detail, EST will solve long-standing questions such as: the structure and evolution of solar magnetic fields, including sunspots; the emergence of magnetic fields through the solar surface; the dynamics and heating of the chromosphere; the trigger mechanism of flares and the magnetic coupling of the solar atmosphere.

Work performed

Important efforts have been made to provide the necessary information to allow policy makers and national funding agencies make decisions to confront the future steps for making EST a reality. Key questions such as organisational and technical issues as well as costs and risks have being under analysis.

The EST consortium has devoted an important effort during the last years to explore possible legal frameworks and related governance schemes in order to provide the means for national agencies to jointly establish, construct and operate EST as a new research infrastructure. After a thorough comparative analysis, the EST Board agrees that the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) is the most appropriate structure, providing, among other advantages, the adequate framework for trans-national cooperation among partners as well as the desired sustainability for the project lifetime. This decision was formally taken during the EST Board meeting held in Belfast on the 18th April. As a result, the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities will initiate the ERIC negotiation process with the corresponding governmental authorities of the EST partners

A deep analysis about the national funding agencies that might potentially invest in EST, to understand the processes by which they allocate funding to large-international projects, was carried out. In parallel, the status of the financial commitment of the different EST partners was updated and communicated to the consortium.

A truly pan-European communication activity has been deployed. For this purpose, the EST Communication Office was created to coordinates the activities performed by the partner institutions, making sure they reach all the countries represented in the PRE-EST consortium. Branding, Communicate the value of EST to the general public, Disseminate EST results to the research community, industry and policy makers, at national and international levels have been key tasks intensely performed during these months.

Science Benchmark has been carried and European experts have worked together analysing the final scientific requirements for EST. the outcome will provide more precise estimates of the capabilities of EST to address key science issues, and ensure that EST delivers the expected significant scientific advancement beyond the current state-of-the-art in the field.

The status of EST has been presented to key stakeholders at national level (governmental authorities, funding agencies, industry, deciders of research and education institutions, etc.) in order to let them the opportunities offered by EST as a singular research infrastructure and its future needs.
The EST Project Office has been established with the goal of getting ready for the construction and operation of the telescope in an optimal way. The Project team is working side by side with the Science team to define the technical requirements of the telescope based on the scientific requirements.
An important effort is being done to involve European industry in the Preparatory Phase, defining collaboration agreements and working on the preparation of upcoming industrial calls. Site testing activity and definition of subsystem specifications for preliminary design of telescope mechanics are being also carried out.

Final results

Beyond the internationally agreed key science goals of EST, several benefits in terms of capacity and capability enhancement, as well as direct economic and indirect societal impacts are expected. EST, as other major research infrastructures, will generate positive impacts at medium and long term, in aspects such as education and economy. The technology required to make EST happen will be developed all over Europe, favouring new jobs and industry as it goes along.
These new technology and innovation opportunities will directly bring about 200 Mâ‚¬ for the construction of EST, besides the operation costs (6% of the construction costs over 30 years lifetime), and will have a ripple effect over other economic activities (technical supplies, basic support infrastructures, maintenance service, tourism, start-upâ€™s, spin-offâ€™s ...). At local level it is expected also a considerable increase in training activities related to solar physics research.
The successes of recent years and the experience gained by the European scientific community in the field of Solar Physics mean that the time is now ripe for a major challenge. This is the role of EST, which will be the largest solar European research instrument. Being built in the Canaries, it would also stimulate economic and industrial development in the region as well as in Europe.
For the host country, previous experience with large telescope construction projects like the 10-meter GTC telescope, combined with the existence of a competitive and specialised nationwide industrial sector and the nature of some of the EST work packages, could mean a return in excess of 30%. Similar returns could also be anticipated for other countries.
At a global level, EST, as part of the backbone of the European Research Area, will be a driver for the economic development of the countries involved in its construction, favouring the creation of more competitive economies and boosting economic recovery in times of crisis by revitalising the economy.
The engineering works required to make EST happen is going to be developed all over Europe. High technology jobs will be created as a result of the progress of EST. Solar Physics is a modern, high-tech science branch relying on a strong collaboration with industry to realise challenging large-scale engineering tasks, offering possibilities for technology spin-off and transfer, together with challenging technology contract opportunities and providing a dramatic showcase for European industry.