EDUCATE: Excellence Dark Universe Centre and Technology Enabler

The nature of dark matter and dark energy, which together make up 95% of the Universe´s energy budget, is unknown.

This is arguably among the biggest puzzles in natural science today, requiring research spanning from elementary particles to the largest physical scales in the Universe.

We propose a cross-disciplinary Centre, with efforts across two universities, building ultra sensitive quantum-limited detectors and designing ambitious astronomical surveys in the coming five years to become a world-leading research environment, spearheading the quest to understand the nature of the dark Universe.

The complexity and sheer size of the data-sets from upcoming experiments and observations will require state-of-the-art analysis methods.

We will reinforce competence and increase knowledge-exchange on advanced novel instrumentation and machine learning techniques, and will establish a graduate school to train a new generation of scientists in cutting-edge skills for optimal production and analysis of empirical data-sets.

We will attract visiting international experts, along with representatives from the data-intensive technology industry in Sweden, to assist us in the training.The Centre benefits from large investments from VR, KAW, SNSA and ERC, funding personnel and instrumentation, and will provide a platform to exploit synergies between these projects, as well as delivering unique training of early career scientists.