A European Milestone for Solar Research
Slovakia, Spain, and the Czech Republic are now at the forefront of the “next-generation” European Solar Telescope (EST) project on La Palma, as highlighted by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC). The project has taken a decisive step forward with the establishment of a Board of Governmental Representatives (BGR). This marks the first formal commitment at a governmental level for this flagship European solar research project, elevating it from a scientific collaboration to a true partnership between nations.
From Scientific Consortium to International Partnership
Until now, the EST has been driven by a scientific consortium of universities and research institutions from across Europe. The creation of the BGR transforms it into a collaboration between European nations, whose governments will provide institutional support. This is a critical move towards the future establishment of a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) specifically for the telescope, which will govern its construction and operation.
First Council Meeting and Leadership
The inaugural BGR meeting was organized by Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities in Madrid on October 28th. It brought together representatives from Spain, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The council adopted its mandate, elected its leadership, and defined a roadmap for creating the EST ERIC. Spain’s delegation included Inmaculada Figueroa Rojas, and Esther Martín Malagón, who was elected as the first BGR President. Slovakia was represented by Jakub Birka, with Robert Ševčík elected as Vice-President, and the Czech Republic by Marek Vyšinka.
Formalizing Collaboration and a Visit to La Palma
A key moment of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Spain and Slovakia, formalizing Slovakia’s participation in the EST. This agreement paves the way for broader governmental participation across Europe. Following the meeting, the delegations traveled to the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM) on La Palma. They were joined by Javier Franco Hormiga, director of the Canarian Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society, an agency that has supported EST since its preparatory phase.
Experiencing a World-Class Astronomical Site
At the ORM, located at an altitude of 2,396 meters and managed by the IAC, the representatives visited the future site of the European Solar Telescope. They also toured several world-class facilities already in operation or under construction at the observatory. The ORM is internationally recognized for its exceptional observing conditions, protected by Spanish law. The delegates experienced firsthand the exceptional quality of La Palma’s sky, which ranks it among the best astronomical sites on Earth.
A Historic Step for European Science
With this step, the European Solar Telescope solidifies its position as a truly European effort—not just a collaboration between scientists, but a shared commitment between nations to build the world’s most advanced solar observatory in the Canary Islands. “The establishment of the Board of Governmental Representatives is a historic milestone for EST,” stated Manuel Collados, the EST principal investigator at the IAC. “It demonstrates that European governments are ready to take joint responsibility for advancing solar research and building one of the most ambitious scientific infrastructures in the world.”
