SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research is the Dutch expertise institute for space research. The Institute develops and uses innovative technology for research in space, focusing on astrophysical research, Earth science and planetary research. SRON has a line of research into new and more sensitive sensors for X-rays and infrared radiation. SRON was founded in 1983 under the name Stichting Ruimteonderzoek Nederland or Space Research Organisation, Netherlands. SRON is a member institution of the Dutch Research Council (NWO). The Institute is headquartered in Leiden with additional facilities in the city of Groningen, Netherlands. Science and technology The institute has over 250 staff members who are employed in a support department and five divisions: High-Energy Astrophysics (HEA), Low-Energy Astrophysics (LEA), Earth and Planetary Science (EPS), Sensor Research and Technology (SR&T) and Engineering Division (ED). Technology SRON's ambition is to act as a leading institute in the development of state-of-the-art satellite instruments for space research missions of ESA, NASA and other agencies. Through the years SRON technology has contributed to many ground-breaking space missions, mainly dedicated to mapping the infrared sky (e.g. IRAS, ISO, HIFI/Herschel), analyzing X-ray and gamma-ray sources (e.g. CGRO/COMPTEL, Beppo-SAX, Chandra, XMM-Newton) and studying the Earth atmosphere (SCIAMACHY/ENVISAT). Examples of future missions to which SRON will contribute are SPICA (infrared), ASTRO-H (X-ray) and Sentinel 5 Precursor (Earth atmosphere). The institute is also planning to contribute to missions which will study other planets in the Solar System and beyond. Missions and projects Current missions or projects with SRON contribution SRON instruments are in brackets. Athena (X-IFU) Chandra (Low Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer (LETG)) XMM-Newton (Reflection Grating Spectrometers (RGS)) INTEGRAL XRISM (Resolve Soft X-Ray Spectrometer) LOFT ALMA (2 band receivers) Sentinel-5p (TROPOMI) Sentinel 5 (Immersed gratings) MetOp (GOME-2) GUSTO ARIEL PLATO PACE (SPEXone) Previous missions/projects BeppoSAX Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (COMPTEL) Hitomi (High-Resolution Soft X-Ray Spectrometer) IRAS ISO (Short Wave Spectrometer) Astronomical Netherlands Satellite GOCE ERS-2 Herschel (HIFI) Envisat (SCIAMACHY) Technology development In various wavelength areas SRON's sensors are already some of the most sensitive in the world. However, SRON is continuously looking for new ways to deploy even more sensitive sensors for the improved detection of cosmic radiation or measurements of the atmosphere of the Earth and other planets. This requires long-term investments in the development of new sensors, electronics and specialist techniques. In the near future, detectors shall increasingly take the shape of large chips with many megapixels, with