Tsinghua-SRON MOU on X-ray Astronomy

Tsinghua Unversity and SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on collaboration in space science and technology on 29 June 2017, specifically on developing advanced X-ray imaging spectrometer, mainly for astronomical applications but the technology is expected to find broad applications in many areas including material science and medicine. SRON is a world leader in space technology, having played key roles in ESA (as well as other international) space missions. SRON is actively engaged in the discussion of the Hot Universe Baryon Surveyor (HUBS) mission concept developed in China, and in helping advance the concept internationally. The primary scientific objectives of the HUBS mission are to find the “missing matter” in the universe and to study its physical and chemical properties. The MoU stipulates that Tsinghua and SRON supports the exchange of research personnel, collaboration on detector R&D, and joint effort on advancing the HUBS concept.

Prof. Qikun Xue , Vice President of Research of Tsinghua, presided over the MoU signing ceremony, and signed the MoU with Dr. Remco den Beston, Managing Director of SRON. Also present at the ceremony are Drs Jun Ma and Xiaojun Lu, Director and Deputy Director of Overseas R&D Management Office; Dr. Jin Xu, Program Manager of the Division for European Affairs at the Natural Science Foundation of China; Profs Tipei Li, Wei Cui, and Shude Mao of the Tsinghua Center for Astrophysics; Mr. Paul Menkveld, Embassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with Mr. Taake Manning and Mr. David Bekkers, Counselor and Officer for Innovation, Technology & Science at the Dutch Embassy; Prof. Wim von den Doel, Executive Board Member, with Mr. Berry Bonenkamp and Mr. Sebastiaan den Bak, China Coordinator, and Coordinator for International Policy at the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO); Drs Jian-Rong Gao and Jan-Willem den Herder, Head of the Cryogenics Section and Deputy Head of the Astrophysics Science Group at SRON.