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European Association of National Metrology Institutes
European Metrology
for Europe´s Future
European Metrology for Europe‘s Future
The central nerve in the spine of our high-tech world is metrology, the science of measurement. Precise and reliable measurements are essential for many areas of our
daily life, amongst others for the manufacture of innovative technical products, the
delivery of modern healthcare and the protection of our environment. As almost every
scientific advance and every technological trend depend on a well-founded metrological basis, it is no surprise that such a wide range of scientific themes appear on the
metrological research agenda.
Measurements help reach
new dimensions
Measuring in the
micro- and nanoranges: a computer
chip, the measuring
tip of a scanning
probe microscope
and a step height
standard with which
the precision of this
microscope can be
checked.
The continuing development of
science, industry and society in
the 21st century will require new
key technologies. Information
processing will have to leave its
established silicon path, materials technology will increasingly
be based on new composites, and
pharmaceutical research will develop products with completely
new mechanisms. Nanotechnology will play a pivotal role here, enabling new routes to nanoelectronic manufacture and exploring the relationship between structure and efficacy of pharmaceutical
products. Measurement standards will be essential in the nano world – a world of which the door has
just been opened but in which the many usable paths still have to be explored metrologically.
In this field, metrology is gaining a new meaning: at the level of “macroscopic” production, it is
already essential that every step of the production is accompanied by continuous and – as far as
possible – precise measurements. This requirement has been indispensable since the early days of
industrialisation when it was already clear that industrial production was no possible without a wellstructured, complex network of measurements. Metrology is now more and more leaving the range
of the visible – where control may still possible with the naked eye – to penetrate into the micro- and
nano-ranges where one has to rely completely and utterly on measuring instruments. Their importance is, of course, accordingly enhanced.
The important technological innovations of the past have depended on underpinning metrology research. Thus, for example, advances in satellite navigation (GPS and Galileo) depend crucially on
improvements in time measurement following the development of the atomic clock in the 1950s.
Similarly, the technologies of tomorrow and the day after tomorrow are already being anticipated by
today’s fundamental metrological research.
A study from 2005 („Productive Metrology – Adding Value to Manufacture“, Annals of the CIRP)
shows how vital metrology is for the economy. It demonstrates that investing only 1 euro into metrology increases the gross domestic product by 3 euros.
European Metrology for Europe‘s Future
Euramet
Measurements help save lives
The population statistics speak for themselves: as western societies grow older the incidence of agerelated diseases grows, while the „big killers“ (cancer and cardiovascular disease) are still not beaten.
Medicine is using more and more high-tech diagnosis and therapy tools in its fight against these and
other illnesses. Today, physicians are using instruments which are not only therapy devices but also
excellent measuring instruments that can simultaneously localise a tumour very precisely and irradiate it – a development in medical quality management which is saving many lives. According to a study of the German Society
for the Epidemiological
Cancer Register 224 250
new cases of cancer were
declared in Germany in
2002. A study of the GerTherapy device
many Society for Radioand
measuring
Oncology shows that apinstrument at the
same time: a moprox. 26% of the people
dern accelerator
suffering from cancer are
for radiotherapy.
healed by means of radiotherapy, partly combined
with other forms of therapies. If one assumes – in
a doubtless conservative
estimation – that an improved dosimetry increases the success of such a therapy even only by one percent, it still means that
more than 2 000 additional patients could be healed each year.
In the future the physician will have access to a growing range of biomarkers for diagnosis and an
ever-wider selection of imaging procedures which will not only deliver qualitative pictures but rely
increasingly on quantitative measurements. Better metrology will improve the measurements behind
the imaging procedures, generate reference standards for clinical analysis and provide mathematical
procedures for realistic biological simulation.
Also in biotechnology it is
becoming increasingly important to see not only what
is happening but also where,
and to what extent – a typical task for metrology. In
this example, the challenge
is to detect individual molecules and to make quantitative statements as to the
antigen expression of individual cells.
European Metrology for Europe‘s Future
Euramet
Measurements help save energy and protect the environment
We have exactly one environment in which we live now and our children will live tomorrow. In order
to treat it with responsibility and sensitivity we have to be able to monitor and analyse it in order to
reduce environmental pollution and minimise all possible sources of danger. This requires appropriate sensors for supervision and control, eco-friendly technologies to protect our world and procedures
to guarantee the future of our planet.
The following figures give an example of how important measurements
Measurements play
are in environmental protection – and
an essential role
when it comes to
this also means protection of man
protecting man from
against environment-induced stress:
environment-induthe radioactive rare gas radon, which
ced stress – for exoccurs in nature, causes 20 000 fataliample natural radioties due to lung cancer in the EU each
activity
year. The EU as well as the individual
member states give recommendations
as to the limit values for radon activity concentrations in dwellings. Precise measurements are the
basis of decisions to be made as to which measures are to be undertaken to reduce the concentration
of radon in dwellings (for example what has to be observed in a newly built house) and can be successful (or fail) after an improvement measure.
High-tech metrology for a high-tech Europe
All the European states have national metrology institutes, each of which contributes to its country’s
economic and social wellbeing. Their relative sizes and various activities reflect their national priorities and the corresponding resources available. To address Europe’s priorities on a European scale
calls for a coordinated research programme in metrology. The European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP) will be managed by EURAMET (the European Association of National Metrology
Institutes) to provide:
•
•
•
•
measurement research supporting technological innovation;
metrology to improve the quality of life of Europe’s citizens;
an improved metrology infrastructure in Europe;
better regulations based on reliable measurement data.
The high tech Europe of the future will require many technological developments, but above all a
rapidly developing high tech metrology capability.
“Measurement, testing and the definition of common standards, are essential elements in the establishment of a knowledge-based economy that the European Union is striving to build. In this context, a powerful European metrology infrastructure is crucial to ensure the proper functioning of the
European single market and to strengthen the competitive position of European enterprises in the
global marketplace.”
EU Commissioner Philippe Busquin 2002
European Metrology for Europe‘s Future
Euramet
The EMRP will be supported by the European Commission:
“The Commission will provide its financial support to EURAMET in order to bridge the gap between
the iMERA ERA-NET project and a joint European research and development programme in the
field of Metrology (the science of measurement) to be implemented on the basis of Article 169 of the
Treaty.”
Annex IV of the 2007 European Commision ‚Cooperation‘ Work Programme
Foundation
of
EURAMET e.V.
in Berlin in January 2007 with
more than 70 participants from 28
European countries. EURAMET
for the first time
forms a legal entity for European
metrology and is
responsible
for
the execution of
the EMRP.
“We have formed a common view of what is needed,
identified what is best done together, and will bring our
collective resources to bear in an effective way“
Further information:
„Outline of the European Metrology Research Programme – the EMRP“
Contact:
EURAMET Secretariat
c/o Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)
Bundesallee 100
38116 Braunschweig, Germany
Tel: +49 (0) 531 592 2008
Kerstin.Royss@ptb.de
European Metrology for Europe‘s Future
Euramet