The UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC), located at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh on Blackford Hill, has enjoyed a close and productive relationship since the launch of SUPA in 2004. The UK ATC is the national centre for astronomical technology, operated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). The UK ATC designs and builds instruments for many of the world's major telescopes, as well as project-managing UK and international collaborations.
The Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (Fraunhofer CAP) was established in 2012 as the first UK Fraunhofer Research Centre, in collaboration with Fraunhofer IAF, Freiburg and the University of Strathclyde. Fraunhofer CAP offers professional R&D services to industry as a flexible and practical resource that responds to companies’ needs in the development of photonic technologies. Consistent with the Fraunhofer model, training of PhD and EngD students is a fundamental part of our mission.
The world’s first "International Max Planck Partnership", established in 2013 between five Scottish Universities and five German Max Planck Institutes, supports research around the theme of ‘Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit’ (MOQL).