The Dutch and French space research organisations – SRON and CNES – have signed a letter of intent to strengthen their collaboration in areas of common interest. These include earth observation, astrophysics, planetology and technology for space instrumentation. The signing is part of the visit of the Dutch King and Queen to Toulouse within the framework of the Dutch-French Economic Year. Aerospace is identified as one of the common strategic sectors within the bilateral Pact for Innovation and Sustainable Growth.
‘There are significant shared priorities between the French and Dutch space research communities,’ says Michael Wise, director of SRON. ‘In particular in the areas of high-energy and far-infrared astrophysics, and earth observation. These commonalities are reflected in our strong collaborations on various new missions such as NewAthena (ESA) and PRIMA (NASA) and in monitoring of greenhouse gases, air quality, aerosols, and clouds in the Earth’s atmosphere.
‘In all of these, France and The Netherlands are major partners and in some cases our partnership is actually critical to make the missions possible. Especially our world-leading detector and readout systems enable the most sensitive imaging and spectroscopic instruments in the world and are the heart of what makes these new space missions possible. But we also excel together in deriving atmospheric variables essential for our climate, weather and extreme events.’
SRON and CNES will organize workshops between leading scientists in the French and Dutch communities. Further possible actions in the strengthened collaboration include joint mission development, applying for joint research project grants and sharing students, interns and even staff.
About CNES
CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) is the public establishment responsible for proposing French space policy to the Government and implementing it in Europe. It designs and puts satellites in orbit and invents the space systems of tomorrow; it promotes the emergence of new services that are useful in everyday life. CNES, created in 1961, initiates major space projects, launchers and satellites and is the natural partner of industry for pushing innovation. CNES in five areas: the Ariane launcher, scientific research, observation, telecommunications and defence.
About SRON
SRON is the Dutch institute for space research. Its mission is to bring about breakthroughs in international space research. SRON develops pioneering technology and space instruments to conduct fundamental research in the fields of astrophysics, earth observation and technology. The institute’s scientific program focuses on the evolution and history of the Universe, on climate change and air quality on Earth, on the atmospheres of far-away planets and on the development of detection technology for far-infrared and X-rays.