Australian Embassy

Italy

Embassy address: Via Antonio Bosio, 5, Rome - Telephone: 06 852 721 - Fax: 06 8527 2300

Australia-Italy Relationship

General/economic

Doing business with Australia

Square Kilometre Array (SKA)

In July 2009, Italy and Australia finalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cooperate in the implementation of a large scale radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

The MOU will promote collaboration on the SKA project between Italian and Australian government departments, universities, research centres and industry.

SKA will be up to 30 times more sensitive than present day radio telescopes. It should therefore be able to provide some answers to questions about the origins and formation of our universe.

Competing bids for the eventual site location of SKA have been shortlisted to South Africa and Australia (which was recently joined by New Zealand). A final decision on location is expected in 2012. The projected cost of SKA is presently estimated at approximately AUD 2.5 billion.

Further information:
Square Kilometre Array

European Training Centre
opened in Varese

The Australian Sports Commission’s European Training Centre (ETC) was officially opened by the Minister for Sport, Mark Arbib, on 3 March in Italy.

Senator Arbib and Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates were joined by hundreds of Australian and Italian dignitaries and athletes at the opening of the new facility on the shores of picturesque Lake Varese in Gavirate. Senator Arbib said the ETC would give some of Australia’s key sports a competitive edge. Olympic cyclist Mick Rogers and Oz Rollers wheelchair basketball captain Brad Ness were on hand to show their support.

The Australian Government contributed AUS$12.5 million to establish the ETC
and the facility is managed and operated by the Australian Sports Commission.
The facility is available to all elite Australian athletes training or competing
in Europe.

The Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome