Between 6-7 February, in Covilhã and in Lisbon, IT was one of the many organizations present in the event SKA Days PT, an initiative that aimed to promote the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) - the world's largest radio telescope - with the Portuguese scientific and business community. With 19 countries involved in the project SKA, the Portuguese consortium brings together the Instituto de Telecomunicações, the Polytechnic Institute of Beja and the Universities of Aveiro, Porto and Évora, through the Infrastructure ENGAGE SKA.

The event - which presents the scientific, technological and industrial vision of the project, highlighting the Portuguese participation – was an opportunity to identify value-added collaborations and to promote the presence of the national community in the SKA work groups, strengthening the active role in the preparation and exploration of the project.

Held in the Noble Hall of the City Council of Covilhã, the first day of the event was a chance to discuss about the SKA's challenges, links and opportunities, as well as the reasons for choosing Portugal to develop the project.

Already in Lisbon, in the Auditorium of the Pedro IV Foundation, the second day of the event opened with a debate about the key goals of the SKA Day in Portugal, followed by a session – moderated by Carlos Salema, the President of IT – were the discussion was focused on a new approach to SKA´s global challenges and opportunities.

This initiative was jointly organized by the FCT, TICE.pt, Instituto de Telecomunicações, Faculdade de Ciências of the University of Porto, University of Beira Interior, Parkurbis, the City of Covilhã, Altice and ENGAGE SKA.