SKA partner SARAO to manage ventilator production in South Africa

News
on 09 April 2020
The South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has tasked the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) with managing the national effort required for the local design, development, production and procurement of respiratory ventilators to support the government’s response to combat the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
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SARAO has been mandated to manage the National Ventilator Project based on the experience it gained in the development of complex systems for the MeerKAT radio telescope, an SKA precursor facility.

“We are happy and proud to lend our expertise developed in the context of MeerKAT and the SKA to fight this global pandemic and protect our country” said Dr. Rob Adam, Managing Director of SARAO.

The South African government has called on companies and experts, particularly engineers and scientists, to come with innovative solutions to help combat the pandemic. In an effort to meet the anticipated demand for critical medical equipment such as ventilators, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition is inviting companies and experts to express their interest in the design, development, production and procurement of ventilators in South Africa.

Fore more information see the official media release from SARAO.