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The International Commission on Illumination (CIE) and EURAMET signed a Memorandum of Understanding to intensify the existing cooperation

At the beginning of May, the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) and EURAMET signed a Memorandum of Understanding to intensify the existing cooperation. Both organisations have a strategic goal to support scientific advancement and technological innovation in the areas of measurement and standardisation.

Founded in 1913, CIE cooperates worldwide and shares knowledge on all matters related to the science and art of light and lighting, colour and vision, photobiology and image technology. CIE is recognised as an international standardisation body and the liaison provides EURAMET with the opportunity to actively participate in CIE's standards development work.

It is anticipated that the close collaboration between EURAMET's Technical Committee for Photometry and Radiometry and CIE will foster progress in metrology research and the traceability of measurements to the SI units related to photometric, radiometric, photobiological, photochemical and photon-based quantities. The large collection of CIE documents including technical reports, notes, proceedings and international standards related to photometry and radiometry are valuable for the work in EURAMET's committees.

In the past few joint activities between both organisations took place: In 2016 the CIE Expert Symposium on Colour and Visual Appearance was supported by the EMPR project 'Multidimensional reflectometry for industry'. In 2017 the CIE tutorial on the new international LED measurement standard (CIE S 025) benefited from the outcome of EMRP project 'Metrology for efficient and safe innovative lighting'. Peter Blattner, Director of CIE's Division 2 on Physical Measurement of Light and Radiation, is convinced that "the new Memorandum of Understanding will formalise the existing good collaboration between EURAMET and CIE, and encourage further joint promotional, educational, technical, or scientific initiatives."

In addition, both organisations would like to collaborate on the design and development of research projects which address the standardisation aspects related to the measurement of light, optical radiation, colour, optical properties of materials, photobiological and photochemical quantities. "We would like to encourage CIE to identify measurement research needs relevant to documentary standardisation and submit them as potential research topics within our European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research," comments Beat Jeckelmann, EURAMET Chairperson.