Preface to the special section on “Radio astronomy: A continuous demand for breakthrough technology”

Radio astronomy is a relatively young science: about an average human lifetime has passed since Karl Jansky’s measurement campaign took place at Holmdel, New Jersey, in the early 1930s, now celebrated as the birth date of radio astronomy. Most people working in the field today can claim to have personally known the pioneers in their countries. In the case of Italy, one such pioneer was Gianni Tofani, who passed away in February 2015. He fully devoted his professional life to scientific and technological research in astrophysics, mainly from the wonderful Arcetri hill of his beloved city, Florence. Furthermore, his management style was highly respected, bringing him to hold leadership positions such as the Director of the Institute of Radio Astronomy.