The 2025 edition of IOD (Innovation on Demand) Torino, the leading event dedicated to innovation, research, and technology transfer, which animated the Piedmontese capital in recent days, hosted a particularly significant moment for the future of global astronomy. During the intense days of IOD, a crucial platform for networking and developing partnerships among industry, research, and institutions, the video based on the Italian contribution to the SKAO (Square Kilometre Array Observatory) project was announced and premiered.
As every year, IOD Torino served as a unique opportunity to explore the most advanced frontiers of innovation, fostering dialogue among key players in the scientific and industrial landscape. It was within this dynamic and forward-thinking context that the importance of SKAO found its perfect resonance.
The SKAO project represents the largest radio astronomy infrastructure ever conceived, a true giant poised to revolutionize our understanding of the universe. With thousands of antennas spanning vast areas in South Africa and Australia, SKAO will be able to capture radio signals from the deepest reaches of space and time, allowing us to study the birth of the first stars and galaxies, the nature of dark energy, the formation of black holes, and even the search for extraterrestrial life. Italy is at the forefront of this global effort, contributing significantly with its technological and scientific excellence.
The new video, not only illustrates the vastness and ambition of this project but also highlights the fundamental role of Made in Italy. Our nation has played and continues to play a crucial part in the development of SKAO, providing top-tier engineering expertise, cutting-edge technologies for the construction of antennas and data processing systems, and internationally recognized scientific know-how. This commitment translates not only into scientific prestige but also into positive benefits for Italian industry and employment, demonstrating how frontier research can be a driving force for the economy.
The journey that has brought SKAO to this point is the result of years of international commitment and collaboration. Italy, through INAF (National Institute for Astrophysics) and a wide network of universities and companies, has contributed from the very first stages of ideation and design, to the research and development of innovative prototypes, to the definition of technical specifications, and to managing the complex challenges that an undertaking of this magnitude entails. In this context, the contribution of companies like Elemaster has been crucial and indispensable. Elemaster, a globally recognized leader in electronics for high-tech sectors, has provided a fundamental contribution thanks to its unparalleled expertise in the design and production of advanced electronic boards and complex systems. Elemaster’s technologies are essential for the precise operation of SKAO’s receivers and sophisticated antenna control systems, ensuring the reliability and performance required by a project of this scale. Their participation is a striking example of how Italian industry excels and contributes decisively to global scientific projects. This Italian leadership, thanks also to entities like Elemaster, is reflected in our ability to attract investment and talent, strengthening our position as a scientific and technological hub.
A Special Thanks to INAF
Heartfelt thanks go to INAF for the masterful realization of the SKAO video. Through their work, they have effectively captured and communicated the grandeur and revolutionary potential of this project, making the dream of exploring the universe like never before tangible to the public.
The video’s unveiling at IOD Torino 2025 marks another important milestone in SKAO’s journey, a project that continues to unite Italian scientific and technological excellence with a vision for a future where knowledge of the universe is within reach.
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Watch the official SKAO project video, click here.