An open association of Institutes and Laboratories willing to collaborate in the exploitation and development of long baseline interferometry.

The European Interferometry Initiative (Eii) is an open association of Institutes and Laboratories willing to collaborate in the exploitation and development of optical long baseline interferometry in optical/infrared astronomy. The Eii confederates the activities included in the European Commission instruments of the 6th, 7th and H2020 R&D program, including the most recent Optical/RadioNet Pilot Program. The current Eii activities are:

  • The establishment of a network of VLTI expertise centres across Europe
  • A joint research activity preparing for the third generation of VLTI instruments
  • The Fizeau staff exchange programme
  • The organisation of VLTI training summer schools and VLTI open days

Funding for the activities was obtained through the OPTICON/RadioNet Pilot Program (2021-2024; grant agreement 101004719), OPTICON - the Optical Infrared Co-ordination Network for astronomy - Horizon 2020 (2017-2020, grant agreement 730890), OPTICON FP7 II (2013-2016, grant agreement 312430), OPTICON FP7 (2009-2012, grant agreement 226604), ONTHEFRINGE (2006-2008: grant MSCF-CT-2005-029954) and OPTICON FP6 (2002-2006, RII3-Ct-2004-001566).

The MoU, Code of Conduct and Management composition can be found here.

Acknowledgements

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101004719. This material reflects only the authors views and the Commission is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

    

 

OPTICON/RadioNet Pilot Program

Under H2020-INFRAIA-2018-2020, the European Commission approved the project OPTICON/RadioNet Pilot (ORP), which mobilizes the two flagship communities of advanced radio and optical/infrared astronomy.

EII Early Career Prize

The EII bureau and Scientific council are happy to announce that the 1st EII Early Career Prize has been awarded to Dr. Tyler Gardner for his PhD work, to the ARMADA and PRIME surveys and to the GAIA satellite mission.

2025 ORP Proposal Writing School

The 2025 ORP Proposal Writing School will take place on-line on four Mondays during the time period 10 February - 17 March 2025. The deadline for applications is Friday December 13, and applicants will be notified about the selection in mid January.

2025 Neon Observing School

The 2025 NEON Observing School will be held at the Calar Alto Observatory, Spain from the 2nd to the 14th of February, 2025.The application deadline is on Friday October 18, and the applicants will be notified about the selection in early November.

Horizons for Optical Long-Baseline Interferometry

Horizons for Optical Long-Baseline Interferometry, organized by the Eii, will take place on Jan 27-30, 2025 at the Paris Observatory (Meudon, France). Deadline for abstract submission is on Friday, Dec. 13th, 2024.