A Conversation with KRISS, the National Metrology Institute of Korea

Transcription

1 A Conversation with KRISS, the National Metrology Institute of Korea Dr. Myungsoo Kim, President of KRISS, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science Introduction KRISS, the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, is the national metrology institute of Korea. It was established in December 1975 as the Korea Standards Research Institute (KSRI) and began calibration services in May KSRI was renamed KRISS in 1991 and offi cially designated by law as the national metrology institute (NMI) of Korea in It has been affi liated with the Korea Research Council of Fundamental Science and Technology, under the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, since March KRISS is currently composed of approximately 400 individuals, with 58 % representing research scientists, 17 % engineers, 16 % technicians, and 9 % administrative. Dr. Myungsoo Kim is serving as the 10th President of KRISS since assuming this role in December He graduated from Seoul National University in 1977 and received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla, USA in Since joining KRISS in 1987, he has served various positions, including Head of the Electrochemistry Laboratory, Director of Industrial Metrology, Director of Electromagnetic Metrology, and most recently Director of Standards Services. Dr. Kim has served on the electrochemistry working group of the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance (CCQM), on the Consultative Committee for Electricity and Magnetism (CCEM), and the Technical Committee Quality Systems (TCQS) of the Asia Pacific Metrology Program (APMP). He has been a member of the APMP Executive Committee since December In addition, he concurrently holds the offi ce of President of the Korea Association of Standards and Testing Organizations. Dr. Kim is the recipient of various awards including the 2006 Progress Medal of the National Science and Technology Order of the Korean government, and he is the author of over 50 papers and eight patents. Q. NCSLI is very pleased to interview you for its metrology journal NCSLI Measure. As the current President of KRISS, can you discuss your goals and objectives for the organization and what you would like to accomplish at KRISS? A. First of all, I do appreciate being given this opportunity to introduce KRISS, the national metrology institute of Korea, to the readers of NCSLI Measure who should be friends and colleagues working on metrology. And I m pleased indeed to be able to offer some information on what we are doing as the NMI of Korea and our perspectives on its expanded contribution towards the global metrology community. Just like almost all of the NMIs in the world, the primary mission of KRISS is to establish and improve the national measurement standards of Korea. Also, it is responsible for carrying out a variety of research and development (R&D) activities on measurement science and technologies ranging from fundamental to cutting edge emerging areas. We are making every effort to create better service and more value for our customers by effectively 30 NCSLI Measure

2 An aerial view of the campus of KRISS where seven pillars are erected in the entrance symbolizing the seven SI base units. Area AUV EM L M PR QM RI T TF Total CMCs KCs Table 1: Calibration and Measurement Capabilities (CMCs) and Key Comparisons (KCs) of KRISS listed in the KCDB: AUV = Acoustics, Ultrasound, and Vibration; EM = Electricity and Magnetism; L = Length; M = Mass and related quantities; PR = Photometry and Radiometry; QM = Chemistry; RI = Ionizing Radiation; T = Thermometry; TF = Time and Frequency. (Source: Appendix C of KCDB March 2011). delivering our excellent achievements. Our strategic customer services include calibration, test, Certified Reference Materials (CRMs), technology transfer and advice, including cultivating human resources in metrology, etc. Ever since I became in charge of KRISS in December 2008, I have been placing greater emphasis on better serving our customers in view of the fact that KRISS is a government-supported research institute that is responsible for missions assigned by the people and the country. Ultimately, KRISS aims to promote the competitiveness of Korean industries in a global market through offering internationally recognized traceability of measurement, enhancing the economic performance of Korea, and securing a better quality of life for its people. It might be interesting to note that the Constitution of Korea states in its Article 127: The State shall Establish a National Standards System. We feel proud of the fact that the mission and activities of KRISS are based on our Constitution. Another legal context that authorizes KRISS as the NMI of Korea is The Framework Act on National Standards, which has been in effect since To be a World-leading National Metrology Institute of the People s Confidence by 2020 is the vision of KRISS that was newly formulated in the first year that I took the leadership of KRISS. In order to turn this vision into reality and to fulfill its mission assigned by the country, KRISS has worked out four strategic development goals as follows: (1) To be a global leader in metrology; (2) to be a measurement solution provider for both national and global agendas; (3) to be a leader of technology convergence; and (4) to be a customer-oriented service provider. The three core elements we value to reach these strategic goals are People of creativity, Sustaining excellence in performance, and Trust and open communications. Q. As a signatory of the International Committee for Weights and Measures Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA) under the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM), KRISS is heavily involved in supporting the Key Comparisons Database (KCDB). Can you summarize the status of the calibration and measurement capabilities (CMCs) of KRISS that are currently listed in Appendix C of the CIPM MRA and KRISS s future plans for expanding and improving the capabilities under the MRA? A. As of March 2011, the number of CMCs listed in the BIPM KCDB in Appendix C reached around 1,000, while more than 300 key comparisons (KCs) were listed in Appendix B (see Table 1). These numbers imply that most of the measurement and calibration services offered by KRISS have been recognized by its customers at home and abroad by virtue of its excellent quality with international equivalency secured under the CIPM MRA. As one of its primary missions, KRISS provides highly accurate measurement services by means of calibration, testing and CRM services to Korean industry, as well as to calibration and testing laboratories. The total number of services provided annually is slightly more than 23,000 in recent years, which consists of around 17,000 calibrations, 3,000 testing and 3,000 CRM services. Recently, the calibration services have rapidly expanded to customers from abroad, mostly for NMIs of developing countries. KRISS has been providing services for those partners in developing countries keeping in mind the saying: Friends in need, friends indeed. Our successful participation in the CIPM MRA has resulted in considerable financial benefits for our customers in their international transactions. For example, Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Corporation (DSME), one of the largest shipbuilding companies in the world, was able to save a considerable amount of expenses by virtue of the CIPM MRA. Had it not been for the MRA and KRISS who was fulfilling all requirements of the MRA, DSME could not have delivered by the due date an offshore plant ordered by British Petroleum in the US, who had required all of the measuring instruments used by DSME to be recalibrated through the Vol. 6 No. 2 June 2011 NCSLI Measure 31

3 Speaking at the 10th anniversary symposium of CIPM MRA in Paris, October National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Another success story comes from Samsung Heavy Industries Co., LTD. (SHI) of Korea. SHI enjoyed a good deal of financial benefits in a contract with Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd. (SEIC). Without the MRA, SHI would have suffered an enormous financial loss as it could not have been able to meet the due date of shipping two special offshore platforms ordered by SEIC. I was honored with a chance to present such success stories of the CIPM MRA at an international symposium hosted by the BIPM celebrating the 10 th anniversary of the CIPM MRA. More information about these success stories can be found by access to the BIPM web site: www. bipm.org/en/practical_info/useful_ links/impact.html. The recent performance of KRISS that has been evaluated through the key comparisons demonstrates its excellent level of technical capabilities that are comparable with the world-leading NMIs in some areas. To be on a par with the advanced NMIs such as NIST, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), and National Physical Laboratory (NPL), KRISS still has a long way to go. However, we will endeavor to provide better quality services in order to meet the ever-growing needs of our customers who cover wider technology areas, including energy, safety, food, health, and the environment, by further developing national measurement standards whose quality is recognized under the umbrella of the CIPM MRA. Q. The accreditation system in Korea is operated by the Korea Labora tory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS). Can you outline the relationship between KRISS and KOLAS in the areas of calibration, testing, inspection and laboratory accreditation? In addition, how many calibration laboratories are currently accredited by KOLAS to the ISO/IEC standard? A. KOLAS is the national accreditation body (NAB) of Korea having the authority for accrediting calibration and testing laboratories and reference material (RM) producers. As we are all aware, metrology and accreditation are core elements in the national quality infrastructure. Therefore, it goes without saying that the close relationship between KRISS and KOLAS is crucial in order to establish and operate the national standards system in Korea. With distinct missions as NMI and NAB of Korea assigned by the Framework Act on National Standards, KRISS and KOLAS have, however, been working closely on such matters as assessment of candidate laboratories and proficiency tests, among others. KRISS provides its professional metrologists who serve as assessors of technical competence of the candidate laboratories. Currently, there are more than 600 laboratories accredited by KOLAS, which are detailed in Table 2. In addition, KRISS provides its experts to act as leaders and advisors in the various national technical committees that KOLAS operates in areas of accreditation. Also, KRISS and KOLAS have been working together for the operation of proficiency testing of the laboratories in which KRISS provides measurement standards and reference materials. In terms of education and training programs in metrology, KRISS operates specialized and professional classes on measurement technologies for people coming from industry, among others. One of the priority action programs I had put in the management plan of KRISS is to build up a close cooperative scheme among the Korean organizations engaged in metrology, accreditation, and standardization. The three key players are KRISS, KOLAS, and KSA (Korea Standards Association). Initiated by KRISS, the three players have meetings on a regular basis (four times a year) in the name of S-Troika. I am confident that closer communications among the S-Troika will promote harmony in refining the national quality infrastructure to the level of advanced countries. I listen to louder voices asking for new and better quality services from wider sectors, such as energy, food, safety, health, and the environment. In order for KRISS to be ready to respond to these new demands, I am encouraging all my colleagues in KRISS to keep closer and more open Classification Calibration Testing Production of Reference Materials Inspection Total Number of Accredited Labs Table 2. Laboratories and producers accredited by KOLAS, Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme. (Source: as of January 2011) 32 NCSLI Measure

4 Nano & Bio Technology GMO Materials Properties Hardness, Strength, X-ray Diffraction, Surface Analysis Mass & Related Quantities Mass, Force, Pressure, Fluid Flow, Vacuum Measurement Clubs Temperature/Optics Temperature/Humidity, Photometry/Colorimetry, Thermophysical properties Electromagnetic Electromagnetic Waves, Electricity and Magnetics, Antenna Lasting and steady communications between club members produces many valuable opportunities, such as finding new business horizons based on technology oriented inner groups, and improving the reliability of measure ment results. Measurement clubs at KRISS create wider opportunities for establishing more effective and efficient processes to exchange experience and information, thereby finding measurement solutions. Safety Acoustics, Medical Measurement, Safety Measurement communications with their present and potential customers. Environment/Radioactivity Air Pollution, Radioactivity Q. KRISS has developed the concept of measurement clubs, which have the goal of identifying substantial measurement problems in various measurement fields and for providing solutions to these problems. At the present time, there are 24 measurement clubs, covering specific areas of measurement such as mass, temperature, length, time, chemistry, nano technology, biotechnology, materials properties, safety, and environmental studies. There are approximately 5,700 members in the KRISS measurement clubs who share their knowledge through on line and offline meetings. Can you discuss some of the accomplishments of the measurement mlubs and how they assist KRISS in supporting Korean industry? A. You presented a clear picture of the KRISS measurement club in your question. However, let me add a bit more about the clubs, including a couple of selected success stories. The KRISS measurement club program has enabled KRISS to learn more about what the NMI in Korea is supposed to do to help industries that are faced with technical problems due to either a Length/Time Length, Time & Frequency, Uncertainty Measurement Clubs of KRISS covering 24 areas of fundamental and emerging areas of measurement technologies. lack of knowledge or experience with measurement standards. By doing so, the clubs serve as a bridge for transferring and sharing knowledge among the club members. Members gain opportunities to access the rich experiences and abundant information available from metrologies at KRISS. They produce success stories by enjoying benefits of these interactions, which could not be obtained outside the clubs. For example, a CEO of a sensor manufacturer posted a written summary of his technical problem on the club bulletin board and was answered almost immediately by the relevant expert of KRISS. It was about nothing but a typical laboratory procedure. However, that simple advice was a treasure that allowed the company s production line to work properly without causing any more problems. Another success story involves an advanced technologyintensive company that had attended several workshops organized by the surface analysis club. After a long and deep discussion to identify underlying barriers, both the KRISS expert and the industrial technician agreed to proceed to the next stage to solve this problem by developing a Certified Reference Material based on cutting edge facilities and utilizing KRISS know how. Q. KRISS has initiated a Home Doctor Program that supports medium and small businesses by providing support for solving problems related to measurement techniques. Through this program, individual experts from KRISS support companies, primarily in the form of exchange visits. Can you give us a summary of some of the accomplishments of this program and any future plans for the program? A. While the measurement club is a group activity where experts engaged in specific areas are getting together, the Home Doctor Program might be called something like one to one tutor program. One KRISS metrologist is assigned to take care of one small business through exchanging visits on a regular basis. The KRISS experts who are designated to be home doctors are visiting their client companies to diagnose and identify technical problems faced by their clients. Based on the diagnosis, the KRISS Home Doctors offer on site consulting activities so as to solve measurement related technical problems of their clients. Some of the recent accomplishments are listed below, which I regard worthy of sharing with all of the readers of NCSLI Measure. CT e-tech Co. solved its technical problems related to noise in a 30 A current transformer. The KRISS Home Doctor helped them find the source of the noise and then reduce it to the extent that they could find new business opportunities by supplying their transformers to HYUNDAI Heavy Industry of Korea. Vol. 6 No. 2 June 2011 NCSLI Measure 33

5 SPECIAL NMI FEATURE Offering technical advice on site at the partner SME by KRISS Home Doctor. Daedeok Tech Co. was suffering from a lack of knowledge about the design of the flowmeters they are producing. Thanks to the technical advice of the KRISS Home Doctor, the company solved the design problem, which led to improving their quality control process for the fabrication and installation of one of their key product lines. Dasol Engineering Co. succeeded in commercializing a four-point probe, taking advantage of surface resistance measurement technology. Currently there are about 50 KRISS colleagues who are serving as Home Doctors. I am encouraging more people at KRISS to join in this program which is making substantial contributions to the advancement of small and medium businesses in Korea. For this, KRISS has a plan to increase the number of Home Doctors to be around 70 by next year. It Data book package issued by a data center designated by NCSRD. 34 NCSLI Measure KRISS Home Doctor program creates substantial impacts on promoting competitiveness of SME of Korea. is envisaged that the scope of services will grow wider to cover not only conventional manufacturing industry but such emerging areas as nano-technology and bio-technology. Q. In order to satisfy the needs of the industrial community, KRISS has been developing and disseminating standard reference data through the National Center for Standard Reference Data (NCSRD). NCSRD supplies measurement data and information whose reliability and accuracy have been critically assessed and evaluated. Can you provide a summary of the goals and accomplishments of NCSRD to date? A. National Center for Standard Reference Data was established in 2006 through the Framework Act on National Standard. The motivation of creating the NCSRD was caused by the demand from industry for data with a guaranteed quality. As is well known, Korean industry has grown up very fast during the last 50 years and eventually reached the stage of manufacturing high tech electronic products, as well as traditional industries such as steel making, petroleum refinery, ship building, automobile manufacturing, etc. They began to realize that data of high quality is very essential for the manufacturing of high quality products. In addition, due to the change in life style and diet, people who are afflicted with chronic diseases and who have other critical troubles such as stroke, cardiac disorder, hypertension, cancer, etc., have remarkably increased as well. Thus, people today have a deep concern about health diagnosis, food products, and the environment. These concerns about the quality of life naturally leads to a growing interest in the reference data related to health and environment. To satisfy such demands from industry, as well as from the people, the Korean government decided to establish a national system for the evaluation of data quality produced by the R&D institutes and universities. One of the main criteria of quality evaluation is whether the data were produced using methods and equipment traceable to national measurement standards. There are 44 databases to date produced by 21 data centers designated by the Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy. Some examples of databases related to industrial demand are low temperature plasma properties of special gases used in the semicon ductor industry, high strain rate tensile properties of automobile steel plates, and high temperature creep and tensile strength of heat resistant steels. Regarding the quality of life, SRD carotid artery wall thickness measurement was registered recently for the diagnosis of heart disease. This is very valuable data since it can be used as an index about whether heart trouble is

6 26th APMP General Assembly meeting in Pattaya, Thailand, Nov serious or not. There were 11 hospitals that joined efforts to obtain raw data. The ultimate goal of NCSRD is to provide highly qualified data to industry, as well as to the people, for better quality of life and products. We hope that these efforts lay down a good foundation for sustainable development of Korea. Q. KRISS is a very active member of the Asia Pacific Metrology Program (APMP), whose members are national metrology institutes from the Asia- Pacific region engaged in improving regional metrological capabilities by sharing expertise and exchanging technical services. In the years 2007 to 2009, KRISS served the APMP by providing the office of chairperson and secretary. Furthermore, KRISS has been sharing efforts as one of the executive committee members of APMP since December Can you highlight some of the accomplishments and support that KRISS provides to APMP? A. APMP is a regional collaboration in metrology in the Asia and Pacific region. It has 28 member economies, including five associate members from other regions. A total of 43 metrology institutes are working together with the aim of improving the region s capabilities in metrology through sharing information and knowledge in national measurement standards among its members. Since taking the office of president of KRISS, I have put an emphasis on expanding its contribution to the regional and global metrology community by exploring more opportunities to serve on technical committees and managing bodies of international metrology organizations including APMP. In December 2009 when KRISS successfully completed its responsibilities as chairperson and secretariat of APMP for two years, I became a member of the APMP Executive Committee. There are significant gaps among its member economies in terms of their economic performance and technical capabilities. It raises a barrier that is hard to overcome in the course of pursuing more effective collaborations in the region. As representative of one of the leading NMIs in the APMP, I have been working closely with the leaders of the other advanced NMIs, including Japan, Australia, and China, by sharing efforts to further promote efficient operations of APMP. On the level of technical committee activities, KRISS is currently in charge of chairing three technical committees of APMP: Mass and related quantities (TCM), photometry and radiometry (TCPR), and the working group on materials metrology (WGMM). In addition, around 20 KRISS experts were invited to be reviewers of the member laboratories of APMP for assessing their technical capabilities under the framework of the CIPM MRA. As part of its efforts for enhancing the capabilities of the member labora tories in developing economies of APMP, KRISS has been expanding its official development assistance (ODA) programs, in addition to servicing calibration, testing, and CRMs and providing technical advice on site by sending the KRISS metrologists to the partner NMIs. KRISS ODA pro grams consist of three main components: (1) developing human resources in metrology; (2) strengthening mea suring facilities; and (3) establishing quality management systems. For human resources development, KRISS offers opportunities for technical training and advanced studies (master s and doctoral courses) for people from the member laboratories such as NML/ITDI (the Philippines), VMI (Vietnam), KIM-LIPI (Indonesia), MASM (Mongolia), and ITI (Sri Lanka). The horizon of partnership with KRISS has been wide open in order to encompass developing countries from every corner of the world, reaching Ethiopia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Colombia. Recently, KRISS was able to explore a new ODA project in cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), UNIDO-KRISS Met rology Training Center. KRISS will be hosting training workshops on metrology for two years, from Around 60 people from NMIs in Asian, African, and Central European countries are invited. It is my sincere wish that KRISS could be finding more opportunities for contributing to the building up and enhancing of the capabilities of NMIs from developing economies. For this, I Vol. 6 No. 2 June 2011 NCSLI Measure 35

7 3 dimensional SQUID sensor by KRISS and finding competent business partners in Korea, the Center organizes a series of road shows at the major industrial complexes in Korea, as well as for technology intensive businesses. Q. KRISS is actively engaged in supporting the new fields of nanomaterials and nanotechnology. Can you discuss some of your current programs and research projects in these areas? Magnetocardiography (MCG) system developed by KRISS. will be doing my best to support human and financial resources to the extent possible. Q. It has been reported that KRISS succeeded in technology transfer to a foreign private company last year, which resulted in a significant amount of income by licensing the MCG (magnetocardiography) technology. It is unlikely that other NMIs could have such an important success with technology transfer. Could you please tell our readers what made it possible for KRISS to complete such a successful story of technology transfer? A. As a matter of fact, the term and activities of technology transfer or commercialization are not very familiar to many NMIs. KRISS has been trying to find more opportunities for transfer and commercialization of its products of measurement standards and precision measurement technologies. In August 2010, KRISS concluded a technology licensing contract with a German private company, Biomagnetik Park (BMP), GmbH. The subject of the licensing was magnetocardiography technology. MCG s high potential for application to medical diagnosis of heart disease attracted the German company to investigate technology transfer of the MCG technology. It was a product of long lasting R&D activities on highsensitivity SQUID sensor technology carried out for more than 20 years. The initial royalty was US $1.5 million, aside from an estimation of US $36 million for running royalty over 20 years until I think that there are three key factors that made this great success story possible. First, the researcher has great enthusiastic devotion to his professional R&D area for more than 20 years (since late 1980 s). Second, the continued financial and strategic support provided by KRISS and the Korean government which enabled him to focus on developing precision measurement technologies relating to the MCG technology without interruption. Last but not least is the systematic supporting services of KRISS aimed at developing technologies worthy of commercialization. KRISS has been operating a Center for Technology Transfer since The Center has been running different programs aimed at identifying technical achievements with high potential for transfer to industry. For example, KRISS operates a Week of Patent Event on an annual basis. With a view to promoting the patented technologies developed A. As an effort to meet ever growing demands of measurement standards over wider ranges and new emerging areas, KRISS has been expanding its scope of activities in order to develop its capabilities to support advanced measurement technologies. As the primary mission of KRISS is metrology, the priority concern of its involvement in nanomaterials and nanotechnology should, therefore, be on metrology related aspects, such as nano characterization of nanomaterials. In addition, KRISS is working on nanoimaging and nano bio convergence technologies whose capabilities are evaluated as leaders in those areas. Let me give you more details of our activities related to nanomaterials and nanotechnology. Center for Nanocharacterization deals with nanomaterials, focusing on the characterization of nanomaterials and the development of nanometrology. The current issues being addressed include the following: (i) Advanced design and synthesis of nanostructured functional materials; (ii) Virtual mea surements of materials properties via computer modeling; (iii) Development of analysis techni ques and characterization methods for electronic / crystal structure, chemical composition, electrical, opti cal, and mechanical properties, as well as thickness; (iv) Development of certified reference materials; and (v) Characterization techniques for environmental health and safety of nanomaterials. 36 NCSLI Measure

8 SPECIAL NMI FEATURE Normalized Force (a.u.) Center for Nano-imaging Technology is devoted to providing robust foundations for advanced metrology and analysis that will meet the needs of the leading edge industrial and scientific communities. This mission is con ducted with a concentration on the intelligent convergence instrumentation of technologies using charged particle beams, nanoprobes, polarized optical beams, and their J F shock, F J F shock, F J F shock, F cohesion F adhesion X ( m) Development of RGA system & ultrafast laser technology system. Multiplex CARS Spectral Analyzer CARS intensity (a.u.) Intensity Raman shift (cm Shift -1 ) en-face CARS Imaging Laser Sources Stokes Laser 1064 nm / Narrow / ps Wideband Pump Laser 820±20 nm / fs Probe Laser 776 nm / Narrow / ps ICCD PMT Grating Monochromator Laser Combiner & Beam Scanner Shutter Bandpass Filter 3-Color wideband multiplex CARS microscopy. x y Imaging Mode Sample Spectral Mode Dichroic Mirror Motorized Translator Optical Microscope Platform Recently, the Center has transferred the key technologies of RGA (Residual Gas Analyzer, ) and ultrafast laser micro machining workstation ( ) to domestic nano imaging instrumentation companies. Nano-Bio Convergence Lab, one of KRISS s World Class Laboratories, is devoted to developing novel methodologies to measure and manipulate single cells, tissues, and biomaterials at the bio molecular nano scale using nanotechnology based on lasers, ion beams, and nano probes. These new nano bio methods offer great potential to foster excellent scientific and technological exploitation that might lead to innovative biomedical applications. Recently, the Lab reported label free CARS multiplexing imaging results for clinical diagnosis of atherosclerosis in a Circulation Research cover article (Se Hwa Kim, Eun Soo Lee, Jae Yong Lee, Eun Seong Lee, Bok Soo Lee, Jeong Euy Park, and Dae Won Moon, Multiplex Coherent Anti Stokes Raman Spectroscopy Images Intact Atheromatous Lesions and Concomitantly Identifies Distinct Chemical Profiles of Atherosclerotic Lipids, Circ Res., vol. 106, pp , 2010.). The prestigious partners who are working with us include the Univ. of California Berkeley (Dept. of Bioengineering), Georgia Tech, and the University of Washington. Q. KRISS has initiated a program devoted to the study of quantum science and its application to metrology. Some of the research and development projects in this area include the development of electron pumps, quantum based temperature standards, and Josephsonbased superconducting devices, to name a few. Can you discuss some of the exciting developments and potential applications in this area? A. The subjects mentioned here belong to those of high risk R&D, but at the same time they have great potential for providing significant impact and applications in many areas. The KRISS Division of Convergence Technology has been developing next generation advanced technologies in the fields of quantum science and applications. I would like to briefly introduce a few of the selected studies in progress at KRISS. Low temperature detector: We have developed low temperature detectors with high energy resolution and efficiency based on superconductor and Vol. 6 No. 2 June 2011 NCSLI Measure 37

9 Left: Low temperature detector for high resolution spectroscopy of photon number and energy. Right: Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizer (JAWS) system. quantum measurement technologies. Key components and measurement methods employed to develop the detector are as follows: quantum sensors (Transition Edge Sensor, Metallic Magnetic Calorimeter); decay energy (Q) spectroscopy for radionuclide analysis; high resolution detectors for x-ray, γ-ray, and α-rays; and new measurement methods for neutrino and dark matter. Quantum-based temperature stan dard: Noise thermometry is one of the research areas to develop the thermo dynamic temperature scale from quantum-based phenomena. We are studying two types of thermometers: (1) Thermal noise thermometer based on a quantum noise generator using Josephson junction device and (2) shot noise thermometer based on a nano-scale tunnel junction. Techniques and devices employed for this study include high speed electronic transport measurements at low temperature and a quantum electrical noise generator using a Josephson junction device, among others. Quantum optics: Quantum optical technology involves the engineering of the quantum properties of light. The term in particular applies to the emis sion of single photons and the generation, control, and measurement of quantum entanglement beyond the bounds of classical physics. Entanglement between photons is a novel resource with potential applications in quantum computation, quantum simulation, and quantum metrology. A femtosecond laser with free-space optics is used to demonstrate multiphoton entanglement. We are developing the following techniques: generation of single photons; precision interferometry; coincidence counting; and quantum state tomography. Q. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is heavily involved in the development of smart electrical grids, by providing metrology and standards support in this important area. Is KRISS active in this area as well? A. In order to share efforts for finding solutions to the global issues of Low Carbon, Green Growth, the Korea Government actively drives the national smart grid project as one part of the national priority agenda. In harmony with the government s initiation, KRISS has been carrying out a project titled Development of Metrology Standards for Smart Grid in terms of its mission as the national metrology institute of Korea. Metrology and standards are prerequisite for the success of this national project of the smart grid. The main research activities include the extension of KRISS measurement capability of DC/AC high voltage and high current, development of measurement technology for Power Quality related quantities, and nationwide Grid Phase measurements. We expect that KRISS will be working more closely with other players in Korea who are responsible for the development of a better performing smart grid, as provider of measurement solutions and reliability of the quality of smart grid, based on our world-leading capabilities in measurement standards and precision measurement technology. Also, we are encouraging researchers at KRISS to explore more opportunities of deeper collaborations with its partner NMIs, including NIST, in this area. Q. Are there some other new or exciting metrology or measurement activities at KRISS that you would like to communicate to the members of NCSLI? A. I am proud that KRISS has achieved very rapid progress after only a bit more than three decades of its history. Not only as the leader in the Asia Pacific region, but it has been regarded as the worldleading NMI in some areas. However, we have still a long way to go until we reach our vision to be the world-leading national metrology institute in a real sense. KRISS will continue to expand its scope of national measurement standards and to improve services with global recognition to its customers, both from traditional sectors and emerging sectors. In addition, as an effort to uplift its R&D performance to world class levels in cutting-edge technologies, we are initiating new strategic R&D programs, including a world class laboratory program, national agenda project, green metrology, and next generation measurement standards, to mention but a few of them. Promoting R&D performance. The world class laboratory (WCL) program was very recently launched in early Including two laboratories selected in 2011, there are three WCL s in operation as of May WCL s have been selected 38 NCSLI Measure

10 High current (40 ka) measurement system at KRISS. Annual workshop on national standards system for developing countries hosted by KRISS since 1983 in cooperation with the Korea government. through peer evaluation by experts at home and abroad, in consideration of their distinguished achievements and further potential to be world leaders in their specific work areas. Each WCL is awarded a considerable amount of financial investment by KRISS, around US $1.5 million per year. WCL 1, selected in early 2010, is working on brain and cognition research. WCL 2 is focused on photometry and radiometry, while WCL 3 studies nano bio convergence research. As for the national agenda project (NAP) funded by the Korean government, KRISS has been leading one project on greenhouse gas measurement, whose ultimate goal of activity is to help find solutions to the issue of the global climate changes. In response to the agenda of energy, KRISS has been carrying out a project named Green Metrology for Green Energy. The characterization of compound thin film solar cells is the targeted technical goal of the project. As people have become more concerned about a better quality of life, KRISS has been putting greater emphasis on R&D for measurement standards and CRM for clinical diagnosis, food safety, and the analysis of hazardous substances including radioactivity from nuclear power plants. For safety from medical radiotherapy, KRISS is constructing a linear accelerator for advanced research on this subject. Sharing experiences with partners in need. Many people in the metrology community acknowledge that KRISS has achieved very fast progress over a bit more than three decades of its history. Looking back on the footsteps we have walked to make KRISS as it is today, I am confident that it has been made possible thanks to precious assistance from advanced countries including NIST, PTB, NMIJ of Japan, etc. Both financial aid and technical advice from such partner NMIs have made invaluable contributions to making today s KRISS. It is time that KRISS shares what it has achieved with the global metrology community including those in developing countries, among others. In harmony with the Korean government, KRISS has been expanding its collaborative programs with developing countries in order to meet the needs of cooperation from NMIs of developing countries from almost every corner of the globe. Human resource development is another priority program, for which we are offering technical studies and advanced degree courses for NMIs of developing countries, with financial support provided by KRISS. KRISS, the greatest place to work. There are a lot of things ahead that need to be carried along and a long way to go until KRISS achieves its vision to be a world leading national metrology institute. In order to turn this vision and plan into reality, I place the first and the most value on our people. I treasure my precious friends and colleagues at KRISS as they are the key and most valuable asset that can make our vision come true. For this reason, I have been and will be doing my best to cultivate a most attractive working environment so that all and every one at KRISS can feel confident that this is the greatest place to work for their lifetime. I try to find more opportunities of communication and face to face meetings with different groups of my colleagues in order to hear their various voices and learn valuable lessons from them. We are studying and developing programs to cultivate KRISS to be the greatest work place, not only from a financial point of view, but from a working environment, relations among partners and colleagues, opportunities of self improvement, etc. Your advice and ideas are more than welcome! Dr. Myungsoo Kim, President Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) # 267 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon Republic of Korea mkim@kriss.re.kr Vol. 6 No. 2 June 2011 NCSLI Measure 39