The Government has published a new UK strategy for the National Measurement System - the collective infrastructure of national facilities, expertise, knowledge, research and legal framework for reliable, consistent and internationally recognised measurement.
‘The National Measurement System: Strategy Document: 2011 – 2015’ sets out the action that Government is taking to support a National Measurement System (NMS). The Strategy also sets out the scope and scale of Government’s planned expenditure on the measurement infrastructure.
Commenting on the publication, Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts who launched the Strategy at the Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition said:
“The National Measurement System strategy will pave the way for the continued development of our world leading measurement infrastructure by giving UK businesses confidence in the quality of measurement standards and stimulating innovation in new measurement techniques.
“Measurement processes are at the heart of British science and engineering and the UK can be proud of the advances made over the centuries. This tradition continues today in our established measurement infrastructure that underpins economic growth, business enterprise, commercial transactions and consumer confidence.
“Through the strategy, the national investment in measurement science will be exploited to the benefit of UK business to generate new knowledge, and promote growth and innovation.”
Through the Strategy for the National Measurement System, fundamental contributions will be provided in two key areas:
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To provide complete confidence in the measurement standards at the core of the NMS, on which all other measurements rely
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To boost innovation through exploiting the link between measurement science and technological advance
The strategy will guide the Government’s measurement infrastructure, encompassing the leadership of the National Measurement Office and the research facilities at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), The Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC) and NEL. It also includes around 1500 accredited calibration and testing laboratories - largely in the private sector - and the quality control and assurance capabilities of private sector companies and public sector organisations who apply the instruments and control systems to the production of manufactured goods, operation of processes, delivery of services and regulatory compliance.
The new strategy will form a framework for the future direction of the work of the National Measurement System (NMS) by setting out the priorities and rationale for funding and the ambitions for impact.
It sets out how the NMS will support action to address national challenges, particularly in the fields of energy production and efficiency and environmental sustainability through developing the UK’s capability to undertake world class measurement science and research.
The strategy is available on the National Measurement Office website www.bis.gov.uk/nmov
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