In 2002 and 2003 a number of European National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) carried out a study examining the structure of and approach to top-level metrology in Europe. The study was prompted by the challenges of supporting emerging technologies such as nanotechnology and biotechnology, providing increased support to non-traditional health, food, environment, energy and security, whilst still providing ever better capability to the more traditional industrial stakeholders.

 

One of the key outcomes of this study, known as MERA (Metrology in the European Research Area) was to propose significantly increased collaboration in metrology research amongst the NMIs and other Designated Institutes (DIs) in Europe. Planning the implementation was conducted in a larger coordination project, iMERA (implementing Metrology in the European Research Area).  The European Commission supported both MERA and iMERA.

 

The first phase of the EMRP (iMERA-Plus) was successfully launched in 2007 and was one of the first of a new type of medium-sized action launched under FP7 (EU Seventh Framework Programme) (ERA-NET Plus), which aimed at aligning and enhancing national programmes. Resources from the publicly funded metrology laboratories from around 19 European countries, plus the European Commission’s measurement institute (IRMM) have been committed within a single joint call for metrology research projects. In total, 64.6 M € of resources have been brought together, with the European Commission providing 21 M € of funding, the balance provided from national resources.

The two-step call ran between May and December 2007, and pivoted on independent peer review and selection of the very best metrology research proposals. A total of 21 collaborative projects have been launched in four targeted programmes, each project chosen for the quality of science and potential to make a significant contribution in its field. The successful Joint Research Programmes (JRPs) were launched between February and July 2008 and run for three years.

The success of the early part of iMERA-Plus enabled significant progress towards the second phase of the EMRP, as one of the new European supported Article 169 initiatives jointly funded by the European Union and the 23 participating countries.

This second phase of the EMRP has a total value of 400 M € over an approximately seven year period. It provides the opportunity for the user community and other stakeholders to directly suggest topics that the metrology community should address with its resources. Additionally, researcher grant schemes are available to bring external expertise into the research projects, and there are opportunities for organisations to participate in the research projects with their own resources where it is mutually beneficial to do so.