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ASKAIC ‘goes global’
Global industry’s capacity to work effectively with the research community in addressing SKA’s engineering challenges was one of the key topics at the most recent meeting of the Australasian SKA Industry Consortium (ASKAIC). The event, hosted by IBM Australia at its Innovation Centre in Sydney, was attended by 24 senior managers from industry, government and the research community. ASKAIC, although industry-led, is increasingly being seen as typifying the strong Australasian collaboration between the three sectors. Its attention is now focused on some of the emerging issues and opportunities for industry in the lead-up to the development of a suitable governance structure for SKA and the conduct of the International SKA Forum (ISKAF2011) in Banff, Canada. The program for the two industry days at Banff is being formulated by the Engineering Organising Committee, an international body established by the SKA Planning & Development Office (SPDO). ASKAIC’s Chair is the Australasian representative on this Committee. 2011/2012 is seen as a critical period for private sector engagement with SKA; one which should clarify the ‘pathway’ for global industry interest in the initiative. ASKAIC’s focus also includes evaluating the non-science benefits of SKA, building on the outcomes of the Rome Forum in March 2010.