Welcome to the National Physical Laboratory Alan Brewin
About NPL The UK s national standards laboratory Founded in 1900 World leading National Measurement Institute 450+ specialists in Measurement Science State-of-the-art laboratory facilities The heart of the UK s National Measurement System to support business and society Experts in Knowledge Transfer A very successful GOCO Managed by Serco since 1995
A world without measurement... Measurement provides structure, removes chaos, reduces waste, ensures open and fair markets, supports precision when required, and saves lives, money and time
What do we do Develop & disseminate UK s measurement standards, ensure they are internationally accepted Multidisciplinary R&D and technical services for public and private sector Knowledge transfer and advice between industry, government and academia Promotion of science and engineering
Magna Carta - 1215 One of the oldest documents formalising measurement in the UK
Magna Carta - 1215 There is to be one measure of wine and ale and corn within the realm, namely the London quarter, and one breadth of cloth, and it is to be the same with weights.
Opening NPL 1902
The invention of Radar 1935
World s first Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) 1946
Filming The Dam Busters movie 1953
World s first Caesium Atomic Clock 1955
Packet-switching developed at NPL 1966
The growing demand for better measurements Health & safety Healthcare Environment Communications Manufacturing Science Energy Transport 2% of GDP dependent on a robust measurement system
Capability Underpinning nature of measurement science requires that we maintain a very broad capability including (not a comprehensive list!): Acoustics Advanced Materials Air Quality Biometrics Biotechnology Corrosion Dimensional metrology Environmental measurement Lasers Mass and force Micro/Nanometrology Neutron measurements Photonics Photometry/Colour Pressure RF/Microwaves Radiation Dosimetry Radioactivity Radiometry Scientific Software Sensory metrology Statistics Surface analysis Thermal measurements Time & Frequency Electrical Standards
Stakeholders Professional Bodies RS, RAE, IET, RSC, CBI, BCC, IPEM, IKT, IoP, ABPI, RPS.. International >40 NMIs, BIPM, Universities, RTOs, EU, ISO, OIML.. Central Government NMO, BIS, GO-Science, MoD, Defra, DoH/NHS, HO, DfT, FCO, CLG, DCSF, HMRC Large companies RR, BAe, GE, Agilent, HP, AZ, GSK, Thales, Vodaphone, IBM, GM SMEs hundreds! Universities Surrey, Imperial, UCL, Oxford, Cambridge, SUPA, Brunel, Coventry, Cranfield, Manchester.. (>40 in collaboration) Regulators UKAS, OFGEM, OFWAT, HSE, NII, NIBSC, VCA, MHRA, MCA, EA, TSI, OFCOM. RTOs LGC, NEL, NNL, AWE, FERA, CSL, CEFAS, DSTL, HSL, BRE, Met O Scottish Exec, Welsh Assembly, NIO County Councils With a track record of joint research funding via EU, TSB, NIHR we are effective partners for bidding. We can build effective consortia and have industrial status for grant applications. Agencies/Quangos RCs (EPSRC, NERC, STFC, BBRC), TSB, FSA, BSI, NDA, SSCs, ETI, UKTI, UKIPO, Carbon Trust, HPA. Plus schools, university students, general public, MPs
The future: responding to national challenges Biotechnology Nanotechnology Security Energy Digital Economy Manufacturing Healthcare Sustainability Enabling UK to lead the exploitation of new technologies for economic & social benefit Providing confidence in the application of these technologies
Metrology for 2020 The rate of change in metrology is driven by the need to sustain the performance of measurement standards at a level that supports users and is able to stay ahead of their requirements. We invite you to add your comments. This vision can only be developed further in partnership with our customers, stakeholders and collaborators. www.npl.co.uk/2020vision
Science with Impact Macro-economic (2000 & 2008) 2% of GDP directly dependent on robust measurement system Investment of 5-10M in the NMS budget would have impact of 400-800M on UK GDP Industry survey (2006) NMS directly assisted industry to achieve annual financial benefits of 620-800M Case studies (2008) NMS interventions achieved cost benefit ratios in the range 1:10 to 1:29 Plus real impact on health, safety, security, environment e.g. radiotherapy, threat detection, emissions monitoring
Thank You www.npl.co.uk