Poland’s largest radio telescope, RT4, located near Toruń, will face shutdown from January 2026 after its 2026‑2028 funding bid was rejected by the Ministry of Science, halting long‑term research programmes.
Funding Decision and Consequences
Poland’s largest 32‑metre radio telescope, RT4, earmarked for the period 2026‑2028, received no financial backing in the Ministry of Science’s SPUB competition. The telescope, which is a key node of the European VLBI Network, could be shut down from 1 January 2026, interrupting long‑term programmes and reducing Poland’s role in international observations.
Political Backdrop and Public Reaction
Astro‑promoter Karol Wójcicki highlighted the ministerial comments linking a planned “IGNIS – Poland Reaches for the Stars” astronautical tour to the telescope’s risk of decommissioning. Minister Marcin Kulasek is seen as a critic of Polish science funding, and his remarks were cited as part of the controversy surrounding the veto of the RT4 project.
Technical Profile of the RT4 Array
The RT4 antenna, positioned in Piwnice about 15 km north of Torun, is an alt‑azimuth Cassegrain dish 32 m across and constructed from 336 panels with a surface accuracy better than 0.2 mm. It is equipped with a maser clock, VLBI synchronisation system, and cryogenically cooled receivers operating at roughly 1.4, 1.6, 5 and 6.8 GHz, with pointing precision of 0.005° and tracking accuracy of 0.002°.
Recent Upgrades and Scientific Achievements
In 2020 the telescope underwent a comprehensive overhaul that included corrosion removal, repainting, cable replacement, and the latest receiver and computer infrastructure upgrades, restoring its scientific potential. UMK researchers have used RT4 for more than twenty years to monitor methanol masers, study pulsars, and, in recent years, observe fast radio bursts (FRBs). In 2024 the telescope’s image appeared on the cover of Nature Astronomy alongside a co‑authored article on FRB energetics, underscoring its importance.
SPUB Evaluation and Funding Landscape
SPUB is a Ministry of Science contest for sustaining key research equipment and specialised IT infrastructure. For the 2026 call, RT4 received an A rating and a positive review that highlighted its inclusion on the Polish Research Infrastructure Map and its broad user base, yet it was not awarded a grant. In total, 186 applications were evaluated, 175 received favourable assessments, and only 11 received funding.
Implications for Polish Radio Astronomy
Without SPUB support, RT4 would lose continuous operation, jeopardising long‑term monitoring projects such as methanol maser campaigns. The loss would also weaken Poland’s participation in VLBI campaigns, fracture research groups, and deprive the country of the only large radio telescope equipped with full VLBI and cryogenic technologies. Maintenance of the 32‑m array has historically been funded through recurring SPUB allocations, and its absence would mean the loss of a national training platform for students and specialists.
