Germany leaves SKA project

“This is rather because of difficult national financial circumstances around the funding of large research infrastructures in Germany and Europe,”
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Germany basically supports the EU financially. It's sad to see them leave though. :(
 
Australia is also cutting back on funding this
 
Sad news. Feels very much like the FIFA World Cup.

"Uhm... bad economic times? Pass, let's give it to the 3rd world rather... let them pay for it..."
 
Very sad news indeed. And this news / decision comes not long after our recently concluded elections. It certainly does feel like a vote of no-confidence to me.
 
Germany pulls out of SKA

Germany has announced it will withdraw from the Square Kilometre Array organisation in June next year.

Germany has announced it will withdraw from the Square Kilometre Array organisation (SKA) in June next year, the science & technology ministry has said.

“According to the SKA website, Germany informed the SKA on Thursday about its intention to leave the organisation,” spokesman Lunga Ngqengelele said in a statement.

He said while the decision was regrettable, science & technology minister Naledi Pandor was satisfied this was not due to lack of confidence in the SKA project....
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Read More....
http://www.techcentral.co.za/germany-pulls-out-of-ska/48695/
 
This cant be good. Germany is powerhouse of Europe. Could this perhaps lead to others leaving also? According to below funding from Germany for the SKA was minimal though?

The SKA Organisation said that while Germany’s decision was disappointing, it would not have immediate consequences for the project because of the limited amount of funding from Germany.

“However, as the project enters its construction phase in 2017/18, German industry will be most affected by this decision, as it will no longer be in a position to bid for major engineering contracts to be awarded for construction of the SKA. In addition, after the board’s approval of the SKA access principles, the ability of the German science community to use the telescope will be compromised,” the organisation said.
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SKA is costly and technically cutting edge. The guys at SKA are highly qualified to run this, I think it is just bad timing financially. Nevertheless, if not ze Germans, then get the Japs to join us!
 
This is to be expected. I would assume a few more countries will bail, and others will join in the long run...

Even in a few years time, countries that bailed will return as they become more financially stable again.
 
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