In building the specialized chips that will make up the antennas, IBM is creating high-performance, low-power-usage customized chips. The chips are based on IBM's Silicon Germanium technology, which combines analog radio frequency circuits onto the chip, producing low noise and low power consumption, according to IBM. The chips will have a peak frequency of more than 200 GHz.

Lessons learned from the SKADS/EMBRACE telescope will help in the development of the larger SKA radio telescope, which will use millions of antennas to collect radio signals. SKA's antenna network will be spread over an area the size of the continental U.S. to gather deep space radio signals.

France, Italy and Germany are also involved in the design and development of SKADS/EMBRACE antenna tiles, according to ASTRON. Other nations also will be involved.

"A large project such as SKA also requires a close collaboration with major industrial companies such as IBM, and with their commitment to this project, they will contribute significantly to a successful outcome", said Marco de Vos, ASTRON's research and development director, in a statement.