AN opportunity to participate in the construction of a $100 million radio telescope in Western Australia to complement the $2 billion-plus Square Kilometre Array project has officially opened. The Pathfinder telescope is considered an internationally significant, next-generation radio telescope that will feature world-leading technology, federal Innovation Minister Kim Carr said. “CSIRO believes that when it is fully operational, this Australian telescope will be the most powerful survey radio telescope in the world,” Senator Carr said. The Pathfinder telescope will support Australia’s bid for the $2 billion-plus Square Kilometre Array telescope, which is backed by the European Commission. WA is one of two places in the world – the second being southern Africa – short-listed to host the SKA. A register outlining the telescope’s technology and infrastructure requirements where industry partnerships are needed has been opened, with opportunities worth around $70 million. CSIRO will build the telescope while it develops technologies for the SKA project. Construction of the Pathfinder will begin next year