With this Twinning With this Twinning action we aim to strengthen the research and networking capacity, profile and impact of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) in the area of galaxies through the development of strategic alliances of this regionally leading institute in an Outermost Region of the EU (OR), with three excellent European partners. An initial SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of the galaxies group has revealed that it is strong and internationally relevant in the area of optical observational research in galaxies, but that, in order to remain competitive and increase its national and international impact, it needs to strengthen in the areas of numerical modelling, radio astronomy, the exploitation of the most modern observational surveys, as well as European proposal preparation and management. We therefore team up with three very important European partners, the University of Groningen (RUG) in particular for radio astronomy, the University of Durham (ICC) for numerical modelling, and the CNRS - Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg (ObAS) for exploitation of modern observational surveys. Each of these partners has a long history of world-leading excellence, performed by teams built around prize-winning scientists. We aim to perform joint research, develop strategies for increased competitiveness, and ensure sustainable improvements as well as lasting collaborations in world-class science. In parallel, we will enhance the capacities within the IAC in top-level project management, administration and strategic skills, and share the new-found excellence and best practice with academic and industry partners in the region. Our project contains a research pilot aimed at using the most modern opportunities achievable through our partners to increase the IAC's expertise in numerical modelling, radio astronomy, and modern survey exploitation, studying galaxies within and outside the Local Group.

The European Solar Telescope (EST) will be a revolutionary Research Infrastructure that will play a major role in answering key questions in modern Solar Physics. This 4-meter class solar telescope, to be located in the Canary Islands, will provide solar physicists with the most advanced state-of-the-art observing tools to transform our understanding of the complex phenomena that drive the solar magnetic activity. The principal objective of the present Preparatory Phase is to provide both the EST international consortium and the funding agencies with a detailed plan regarding the implementation of EST. The specific objectives of the proposed preparatory phase are: (1) to explore possible legal frameworks and related governance schemes that can be used by agencies to jointly establish, construct and operate EST as a new research infrastructure, with the implementation of an intermediate temporary organisational structure, as a previous step for future phases of the project; (2) to explore funding schemes and funding sources for EST, including a proposal of financial models to make possible the combination of direct financial and in-kind contributions towards the construction and operation of EST; (3) to compare the two possible sites for EST in the Canary Islands Astronomical Observatories and prepare final site agreements; (4) to engage funding agencies and policy makers for a long-term commitment which guarantees the construction and operation phases of the Telescope; (5) to involve industry in the design of EST key elements to the required level of definition and validation for their final production; (6) to enhance and intensify outreach activities and strategic links with national agencies and the user communities of EST. To accomplish the aforementioned goals, this 4-year project, promoted by the European Association for Solar Telescopes (EAST) and the PRE-EST consortium, encompassing 23 research institutions from 16 countries, will set up the Project Office

The BiD4BEST ITN will offer doctoral training in one of the most visible areas of astrophysical research, the formation of supermassive black holes in galaxies. A coordinated research training effort in this field is needed now to mobilise the community in Europe and prepare a core group of young scientists in anticipation of new observational data in the early/mid 2020s from future space missions with strong European involvement. These data will have the quality and volume to yield transformational science on the formation of black-holes in galaxies, as long as the necessary expertise and synergies among observation, theory and data analytics exist within the European astronomy community. We propose to achieve this goal by setting up a research training network that brings together leading scientists in observational and theoretical studies of black holes and galaxies, industrial experts in cutting-edge big-data technologies, and professionals in science dissemination. Together, we will setup doctoral research projects each of which combines state-of-the-art observations, numerical simulations and innovative analytic tools to compare theory with observation and shed light on the physics of black hole formation in the context of galaxy evolution. The training on expertise from different research areas (observational astronomy, theoretical astrophysics) and sectors (academic, industrial) will be achieved by carefully designed secondments, mixed doctoral supervisory committees (academia, industry), well coordinated events for team communication and interaction, as well as network-wide courses on astrophysics and transferable skills. The proposed research training programme aspires to generate individuals that in addition to academic competences, master big-data analytics and have the capacity to apply these technologies to solve problems in different sectors (research, industry, non-academic) by developing innovative products and services.

PI2FA proposal’s overarching aim is to make a major breakthrough in our understanding of the magnetised solar chromosphere under a novel frame of a multi-fluid plasma theory. Future large-aperture solar telescopes, EST and DKIST, will have among their primary focus observations of chromospheric magnetic fields. The correct interpretation of solar data requires sophisticated theories. The solar atmosphere is made of strongly stratified, weakly ionised and not completely collisionally coupled plasma. In the previous PI’s ERC SPIA project we opened a new research line and performed systematic investigations of non-ideal effects due to neutrals in the solar plasma. To build the complexity step by step, we advanced a single-fluid formalism, best valid for a strongly collisionally coupled case. Nevertheless, a multi-fluid treatment is essential for the weakly coupled chromosphere because the processes of the energy transport and conversion happen at nearly collisional scales. Now it is the right moment to take advantage and consolidate the experience gained in the SPIA project and to bring our research to a new level of challenge. The ambition of the PI2FA proposal is to create and apply tools for multi-dimensional modelling of the solar chromosphere under a precise two-fluid multi-species approach. In the recent few years it has been repeatedly demonstrated that processes related to non-ideal plasma behaviour due to neutrals may be the key to solve the problem of chromospheric heating and dynamics. PI2FA project will make progress in the following questions: determination of chromospheric heating mechanisms; understanding destabilization mechanisms of prominences related to neutrals, and creation of multi-dimensional two-fluid models of the solar chromosphere. These models will include altogether complex interactions down to smallest scales and allow direct comparison to observations, as a way to prepare our community for the coming large-aperture telescopes.

CELESTE represents a visionary initiative by the Instituto de Astrofsica de Canarias (IAC) for positioning the Canary Islands as a hub of excellence for pioneering research and technology development centered on two interlinked domainsAdvanced Optical Systems and New Space. CELESTE will elevate IACTEC (the IACs division dedicated to industry collaboration) into a self-sustaining Center of Excellence (CoE). This will be achieved in close collaboration with world-leading institutions, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), who will bring key knowhow in ground-breaking knowledge areas such as advanced astronomical instrument design, quantum communication technologies for secure space-to-Earth data transmission, and the development of ultra-high precision optical elements for astronomical observations. Also, strategic managerial knowhow. A key driver of CELESTE is the Smart Specialization Strategy for the Canary Islands (2021-2027), which strongly supports the international leadership in Astrophysics and Space Sciences. A recent study by the region revealed the positive impact of the astrophysical activity to the Canary Islands' GDP, and for every million euros spent in the sector 45 jobs are generated. To scale this, CELESTE will allow to fully exploit ongoing investments that are already programmed for the next years. CELESTE project will focus on creating the core structure for the long-term autonomy of IACTEC as self-sustained CoE (securing stable agreements with international partners and ensuring financial stability), foster productive training and exchange programs to attract and consolidate talent, setting up and operating a new battery of high-tech laboratories, and build a robust ecosystem of stakeholders.