POLFAR and LOFAR-ERIC

The modernization of the LOFAR system was accompanied by work to change the legal structure of the entity responsible for LOFAR’s operation and development. Following consultations with representatives of science funding agencies in the countries involved in LOFAR, the Board of the ILT foundation decided that a European Research Infrastructure Consortium should be established to replace the ILT foundation, which had been established under Dutch law. This was ultimately accomplished by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2881 of 20 December 2023, which established the Low Frequency Array European Research Infrastructure Consortium (LOFAR ERIC). Poland is one of the 6 founding countries: Bulgaria, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Italy. Sweden and the United Kingdom joined the consortium on 26 March 2025, followed by Czechia on 24 September 2025. France and Latvia have observer status. ERIC is the most widely used legal form adopted by new research infrastructures established in Europe.

Poland’s representatives on the LOFAR ERIC Council are Prof. Andrzej Krankowski, the scientific representative (University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn), and Dr Dariusz Drewniak, the governmental representative (MNiSW).

https://www.lofar.eu