The IAC Governing Council approves the 2014 - 2017 Strategic Plan for sustaining activities at the centre

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The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence, will continue to receive funding from the Spanish Government and the Government of the Canary Islands. Both bodies have approved a plan for 2014 - 2017, which was put forward by the IAC to ensure the sustainability of the centre's activities. The decision was announced by the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Paulino Rivero, and the Secretary of State for Research, Development and Innovation, Carmen Vela, at a press conference after the Governing Council's meeting at La Laguna yesterday morning.

The IAC Governing Council is the supreme decision-making body of the IAC. It has complete administrative and financial control over the centre and includes representatives of the various partner administrations: the Spanish Government, currently via its Ministry of Finance and Competition (MINECO), the Autonomous Government of the Canary Islands (CAC), the University of La Laguna (ULL) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).

Director's Report

Professor Rafael Rebolo, who was named as IAC Director and successor to Professor Francisco Sánchez at the Governing Council's previous meeting, presented a report highlighting four main areas: human resources, scientific production 2004 - 2013, technology production during that decade and a Strategic Plan for the next four years. The plan was based on a focused research programme, optimising infrastructure, developing technology for Astrophysics, professional training through research activities, public outreach and technology transfer for socio-economic development.

Assessment Committee

The Governing Council also received a report on the recommendations of the Research Assessment Committee, the IAC body responsible for assessing and consulting on proposals for research policy development, public outreach and technology, as well as for analysing the centre's science and technology output and evaluating its staff. The Governing Council approved a proposal to invite the well known astrophysicist Malcolm Longair to join the Committee. Professor Longair has been Director of the Physics Department at Cambridge University for many years and is an expert in High Energy Astrophysics, an author of numerous books and publications for the general public and a Cavendish Laboratory Emeritus Professor. He will take the place of Michel Mayor of the University of Geneva, the discoverer of the first exoplanet. The Governing Council thanked Michel Mayor for his magnificent work on behalf of the Committee. 

Budget

The two administrations have approved the forward plan 2014-2017 which was produced by the IAC to provide a sustainable future for activities at the centre. Having considered a recommendation from the Assessment Committee, the Governing Council decided to accelerate work to improve the IAC's financial position in 2015 and approved a draft budget for that year (subject to confirmation of funds) which keeps the IAC's expenditure at 15.345,32 K€, including a contribution of 9.826,62 K€ from MINECO and 3.867,97 K€ from the Government of the Canary Islands. An additional 8.000 K€ of income was anticipated from R&D&i activities (contracts, agreements, European Union, etc).

Future of the "Isaac Newton Telescope Group" (ING) 

The Governing Council authorised the IAC to sign an agreement to relinquish control over the ING (Isaac Newton Group) telescopes and become a minority partner in the new management structure to be created to manage both the ING and the William Herschel Telescope (WHT) under the legal formula of a Canarian Foundation outside the public sector.

La Palma Centre for Astrophysics and Technology

The Governing Council also authorised the IAC to negotiate terms with the Cabildo of La Palma for locating the La Palma Centre for Astrophyics and Technology (CATeLP) at the new Antares Science Area and Technology Project. This would bring the whole of the astrophysics community in La Palma together in a single location and ensure maximum connectivity (roads and telecommunications) between the new headquarters and facilities on the island (including the Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory). It would also ensure that there was capacity for the centre to grow in the future, through new user institutions and innovative commercial initiatives, with the IAC continuing to manage and mediate between all of the institutions housed in its observatories at this new Technology Area.

Tenerife "IACTech" technology centre  

On the Tenerife "IACTech" technology centre, a new venture which anticipates the development of advanced scientific instruments in the Canaries, the Governing Council authorised the IAC to proceed with an Action Plan for putting together a development group comprised of private firms and public sector bodies. It also authorised the IAC to move forward with establishing the Foundation, including drafting its statutes, governance arrangements and operational model. The Spanish Government's Secretary of State and the Government of the Canaries will work with the IAC Director to help constitute the development group.

Cherenkov Telescope Array Project (CTA)

Once formal authority has been received from MINECO, the IAC will be able to become a partner in the German company that will oversee the preliminary phase of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) project, the world's largest network of gamma ray telescopes, on the basis that the Canaries could become the Northern hemisphere site for this large astrophysics infrastructure. Specifically, the IAC will be able to make arrangements to become a partner in CTAO GmbH whilst the company is working on pre-construction activities for the CTA. The IAC will manage Spain's financial commitments during the pre-construction phase of the CTA, with responsibility for making the financial transfers on behalf of the Secretary of State for Research, Development and Innovation.

Members of the Governing Council

  • President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Paulino Rivero Baute
  • Secretary of State for Research, Development and Innovation, Carmen Vela Olmo
  • Director General of Science and Technology Research, Marina Villegas Gracia
  • Director of the Canary Islands Government's Canarian Agency for Research, Innovation and the Information Society (ACIISI), Juan Ruiz Alzola
  • Rector of the University of La Laguna (ULL),  Eduardo Doménech Martínez
  • Chairman of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Emilio Lora Tamayo
  • President of the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife, Carlos Alonso Rodríguez
  • President of the Cabildo Insular de La Palma, Anselmo Pestana Padrón
  • Director of the IAC, Rafael Rebolo López



News type
Press release

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