Madagascar is taking a major step forward in scientific development. Between June 8 and 12, 2026, the University of Antananarivo hosted a workshop marking the installation of the first TART (Transient Array Radio Telescope) in the country. This radio astronomy instrument, the tenth deployed in Africa, is part of a continental initiative to equip partner countries of the SKA project (Square Kilometre Array, a major international scientific initiative in radio astronomy aimed at building the world's largest radio telescope network) with modern observation tools. Developed in New Zealand by Dr Tim Molteno and the Electronics Research Foundation, the TART stands out for its open-source nature and its ability to continuously monitor the entire sky. Optimized to detect satellites, near-Earth objects and transient phenomena, it opens new perspectives for local scientific research.
Beyond the technological achievement, this installation is part of the DARA program (Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy). Supported by SARAO (South African Radio Astronomy Observatory), Rhodes University and funded by Breakthrough Listen, the initiative aims to strengthen STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills among Malagasy students. Accessible and educational, the TART constitutes an ideal platform for introducing researchers to signal processing techniques and radio astronomy. A significant advance that positions Madagascar on Africa's scientific map.