The agreement marks an important step in the development of a Dutch time infrastructure that is resilient against failures of satellite navigation systems and contributes to scientific and technological innovation.
The collaboration builds on advanced network technology that allows atomic clocks at different locations to be combined via the fiber-optic network into a robust national time system, and even enables the distribution of signals from extremely precise optical clocks.
Such a time system can serve as a backup for the time signals of satellite navigation systems such as the American GPS and the European Galileo, on which critical infrastructure like mobile networks and power supplies heavily depend.
Furthermore, the envisioned time infrastructure could lead to numerous scientific and technological innovations, ranging from new techniques for positioning, radio astronomy, and geodesy, to quantum communication and the use of fiber-optic cables as sensitive seismic sensors.
The strength of the collaboration lies in the complementary roles of both institutes. Fabienne van Booma, Managing Director of VSL: “As the National Metrology Institute of the Netherlands, VSL is legally responsible for the management and distribution of the national time scale UTC(VSL). With scientific breakthroughs in time networks, VU can support VSL in generating this time scale with higher accuracy and in making this signal available via the fiber-optic network with high reliability. Thanks to this collaboration, VSL and VU are stimulating innovation in this field in the Netherlands.”
Within the collaboration, joint research projects, knowledge exchange, visiting researchers, workshops, and scientific publications are envisioned. The institutions will also collaborate in acquiring and executing national and international projects, with respect for each other’s complementary roles and expertise.
Margrethe Jonkman, president of VU Amsterdam’s Executive Board: "With this collaboration, VU Amsterdam and VSL underscore their joint ambition to prepare the Netherlands for the technological challenges of the coming decades, in which accurate and reliable timing plays an increasingly crucial role."
Photo: Marieke Wijntjes