Capacity-Building for Big Science in the Global South: Lessons Learned from the Square Kilometer Array

Hosting a big science project, a research facility that is anchored around large and complex instruments in the billion-dollar class, presents both an opportunity and a challenge for countries from the Global South. On the one hand, big science projects may foster a host country’s local and national capacities in science and technology (S&T). On the other hand, contenders need solid S&T capacities to bid for a big science facility. In the Global South, and in particular on the African continent, few countries currently have such capacities. With the exception of South Africa, which is host to the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), a billion-euro radio astronomy facility, no African country hosts a big science project. This essay outlines how South Africa, which initially lacked human capital and infrastructure in radio astronomy, succeeded in building capacity for SKA. In addition, it draws two lessons from South Africa’s capacity-building efforts. These lessons could prove useful for countries from the Global South that are keen to strengthen their S&T capacities for big science.