The E-ELT (European Extremely Large Telescope)  is the new challenging project of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). The E-ELT will be the largest optical/near-infrared telescope in the world and will gather 13 times more light than the largest optical telescopes existing today. The E-ELT will be able to correct for the atmospheric distortions (i.e., fully adaptive and diffraction-limited) from the start, providing images 16 times sharper than those from the Hubble Space Telescope. The E-ELT will vastly advance astrophysical knowledge by enabling detailed studies of planets around other stars, the first galaxies in the Universe, super-massive black holes, and the nature of the Universe's dark sector. For more information on  E-ELT visit the ESO web site http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/e-elt.html.

The E-ELT project is included in the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) List of Opportunities. It has also been ranked in the 2010-2025 ASTRONET European strategic planning as one of two clear top priorities for future ground-based astronomical infrastructures.

In order to maximize the participation of astrophysicists and Italian industries to the realization of this  amazing european venture,  the T-REX  (Telescopio per Raggiungere l’EXtremo)  project has been selected and funded by the Italian Ministry  MIUR in the framework of the “Progetti Premiali 2011” and “Progetti Premiali 2012” 

The T-REX project involves all the Italian institutes that participated  to the Phase-A studies for the E-ELT instruments. The P.I. of the  project is MONICA TOSI, from the INAF - BOLOGNA Observatory.    The T-REX project is organized in 6 operating units. Here you can find the list of the operating units  with  the people involved.  

The principal aims of the T-REX project are :

1. 1.Define the technical specifications of the E-ELT instruments based on the highest priority science cases. 
   

2. 2.Strengthen the position and role of INAF and Italian Universities in the international consortia, currently under development, for the realization of the E-ELT instruments.
   

3. 3.Support the executive design phase of the E-ELT instrumentation, strengthening  facilities and laboratories.
   

4. 4.Create synergies between  the expertise and the abilities acquired in astronomy from different  worlds (scientific, industry, production)
   

5. 5.Promote integration processes between research institutes, universities and industry.
   

6. 6.Innovate the international cooperation processes through new scientific and industrial dynamics, strengthening the involvement of Italian companies in the design and construction of instrumentation for the E-ELT.
   

7. 7.Promote the formation of young researchers to be employed in the design and construction of instrumentation for the E-ELT via training by highly qualified personnel.
   

8. 8.Develop new technologies to ensure the feasibility of the  E-ELT instruments.
   

9. 9.Ensure the maintenance / enhancement of scientific and industrial know-how
   

10. 10. Promote the transfer of technology from the field of astronomical instrumentation  to other fields such as renewable energy, medical technologies, information technology and communication and to  technologies aimed at nano-electronics using lithographic techniques.
    

A more detailed description of the T-REX project  can be found in the  proposals submitted to the Italian Ministry in the framework of the “Progetti Premiali 2011” and “Progetti Premiali 2012”.  All the proposals are available in the  Document Section (in italian for T-REX 1 and both in italian and in english for T-REX 2). Funds for T-REX 1 have been allocated at the end of 2012; funds for the T-REX 2 in May 2014.

E-ELT at Cerro Armazones (© Swinburne Astronomy Productions/ESO).