The CTAO ERIC
The CTAO Central Organisation (CTAO ERIC) is in charge of the construction and operation of the Observatory. It is founded by 11 countries and one intergovernmental organisation: Austria, Czech Republic, European Southern Observatory (ESO), France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Spain. Additionally, Switzerland is an Observer, Japan joins as a Strategic Partner and Australia as a Third Party. The CTAO ERIC was established by the European Commission in January 2025, thus, the former legal entity, CTAO gGmbH, will co-exist until all assets are transferred.
CTAO gGmbH
The CTAO gGmbH is the legal entity for the CTAO Central Organisation that has been preparing the design and implementation of the Observatory since 2014 thanks to the support of its governing body, the CTAO Council. The Council is comprised of 11 member countries and one intergovernmental organisation, as well as associate members from two countries.
Leadership:
Chair, CTAO Council: Markus Schleier
Vice-Chair, CTAO Council: Massimo Cappi
Managing Directors, CTAO gGmbH: Stuart McMuldroch and Federico Ferrini
CTAO gGmbH Council Members and Associate Members
| Member Country | Institute | Delegates | Country Entrance Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Australia Astronomy Limited | Gavin Rowell, James Murray | 2018 |
| Austria | Innsbruck Universität | Olaf Reimer | 2016 |
| Czech Republic | Institute of Physics of the Academy of Science of the Czech Republic | Michael Prouza, Marek Vyšinka | 2015 |
| France | Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) | Vincent Poireau, Martin Giard | 2016 |
| France | Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) | Franck Sabatié | 2016 |
| Germany | Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) | Christian Stegmann, David Berge | 2014 |
| Germany | Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (MPG) | Severin Berger | 2016 |
| Intergovernmental Organisation | European Southern Observatory (ESO) | Xavier Barcons, Nikolaj Gube | 2019 |
| Italy | Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF) | Filippo Maria Zerbi | 2014 |
| Italy | Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) | Marco Pallavicini (Statement M.Pallavicini) | 2017 |
| Japan | University of Tokyo | Masahiro Teshima, Hidetoshi Kubo | 2015 |
| Slovenia | University of Nova Gorica | Danilo Zavrtanik | 2018 |
| Spain | Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) | Inma Figueroa, Rafael Rebolo | 2015 |
| Switzerland | Université de Genève | Teresa Montaruli, Xavier Reymond | 2014 |
| United Kingdom | UK Research and Innovation – The Science and Technology Facilities Council | Helen Beadman | 2015 |
| Associate Member Country | Institute | Delegates | Country Entrance Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Dutch Research Council (NWO) | Saskia Matheussen, Jacco Vink | 2015 |
| South Africa | National Research Foundation | Markus Böttcher | 2015 |
The Statutes of the CTAO gGmbH: Articles of
Annual Reporting Documents:
Annual Report 2015 on Implementation of Principles of German Public Corporate Governance Cod
Advisory Bodies
The CTAO Council is supported by three advisory committees:
Administrative and Finance Committee
Purpose: To advise the Council on matters of administrative, legal and financial nature.
Chair: Chiara Guccione
In-Kind Review Committee
Purpose: To assess the process of calls for in-kind contributions to the CTAO, evaluate proposals received, provide recommendations on the selection of the proposals to the Council and to advise on the contracting and reviewing process of in-kind contributions.
Chair: Richard Schilizzi
Vice Chair: Christian Fabjan
Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee
Purpose: To advise the CTAO Council and provide recommendations based on the assessment of the scientific and technical activities carried out for the CTAO construction project.
Chair: Adrian Russell