European metrology research programmes

Since the 19th century, science and technology have undergone, and are still undergoing, impressive and incredible developments that are changing our lifestyles and habits, enabling ever-faster technical developments and establishing new modes of global exchange, particularly for trade and the economy. This technological boom also raises many questions about the future, particularly with regard to energy and environmental challenges, climate change, and health-related issues such as biological and medical research. Added to this is the continuing exploration of the world of nanos, the infinitely large (with space research) and the expansion of digitization.

To enable these advances, to meet new challenges, to create a safer world, to support the competitiveness and productivity of companies, and to ensure the health and safety of people, it is essential to have reliable and indisputable references for all measurements. This is what all national laboratories working in the field of metrology worldwide are trying to do, to assure users, whoever they may be, that their measurements are indisputable, and therefore traceable to an internationally recognized reference. Fields such as biology and medicine are also increasingly concerned, as the results of analysis or imaging measurements can have important consequences for our survival, diagnosis or therapy, not to mention the economic cost to social security of each prescription.

Like all fields of research, metrology requires time and resources. With the field of possibilities growing exponentially, governments are not in a position to meet all the challenges, even with the best will in the world. Aware of this issue, and of the importance of metrology to Europe's competitiveness, to human health (with an ageing population), to security (particularly with the significant development of digitization in all fields), and to the development of space activities, the European Commission has been studying the feasibility of metrology research programs since 2005. The aim is to pool and coordinate resources in order to go further and respond more rapidly to expressed needs. In addition, this increased collaboration between laboratories has enabled new subjects to be developed and new scientific and technical performances to be achieved.

Since 2007, the EC and its Member States have committed a total investment of around one billion euros to metrology research. The aim is to provide a real response to economic and social issues, to new challenges such as energy independence and climate monitoring, and to strengthen Europe's position on the international stage. It's a story that has required step-by-step construction, mutual trust between the various players - national metrology institutes and the European...