The world is full of colour and energy. Human ingenuity has harnessed this vibrancy to build truly amazing things. It is also this ingenuity that drives us to perpetually innovate and create, shaping the future we will all inhabit. But for us to make progress on challenges – from renewable power to healthcare – we need a consistent system for measurements.
Metrology is an invisible foundation for quality of life. The science of measurements establishes and maintains a common framework of definitions which we can all use. It links all human activity and is powered by a continuous cycle of accuracy that drives science and technology forward. Most recently, in 2019, member states of the Metre Convention revised the International System of Units (SI) to redefine four of the seven base units – the kilogramme, ampere, kelvin and mole – in terms of constants that describe the natural world. The kilogramme, for example, has since been defined in terms of the Planck constant.
We are the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany’s national metrology institute. From clean water to photovoltaics, we are always looking for accuracy and precision in measurement. Under the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, we deliver services to the public sector and industry on all questions regarding reliable measurements. Besides, we are proud to have played a key role in development cooperation for the past 60 years. Alongside our partner countries, we advise governments, promote institutions and support small and medium-sized enterprises. The projects we implement are funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
While much of our scientific work is based on the SI units and their dissemination, our work in the realm of development cooperation encompasses other dimensions. There, our efforts pertain mainly to the measuring and development of an arguably more abstract characteristic: quality.
An international quality infrastructure
We know that quality can be measured. Its features are measurable and can be clearly defined. Most importantly, in our view, metrology is built on the heartfelt conviction that quality is a public good. But proving compliance of products and services with national and international specifications requires a consistent network, known as quality infrastructure.
This internationally recognized quality infrastructure helps protect consumers and the environment, grow the global economy, combat poverty and unemployment and improve social performance. Because, in practice, quality underpins everything from the filling quantities of prepackaged goods like tuna or toothpaste to the protection of healthy competition in the open market.
The quality infrastructure is built on five key pillars: standardization, metrology, conformity assessment, accreditation and market surveillance. By complying and subscribing to such a universal quality framework, organizations – regardless of their size, industry sector and location – are held accountable. This fosters a culture of transparency, clarity and trust in international trade and cross-sector partnerships. The same applies to countries: once they have developed a functional quality infrastructure, they can better integrate into global value chains, thereby boosting their economies.
Defining quality, however, is an impossible task without clarity on how to measure it. It’s vital that we make sure the measurements we all use are accurate and as future-proof as possible, so they are ready to accommodate future advances in science and technology.
From measurements to meaningful impact
Our work in international cooperation goes beyond measuring and defining quality. We aim to deliver tangible, real-world benefits. For metrology to have a truly meaningful and long-lasting impact, it must be woven into the day-to-day lives of people. For instance, as developed countries around the world look to shift their transportation systems towards electric vehicles, it is essential that charging stations are checked correctly and regularly so that consumers can rely on the accuracy of their top-ups. Just like drivers had to agree on what a litre or a gallon of fuel represented, EV owners will need to know exactly how much power they’re charging into their batteries.
In the developing world, our efforts to integrate emerging economies into the global quality infrastructure must answer several key questions. What are the quality-related strengths and weaknesses of the partner countries? What are the demands of users of quality services, such as industry and consumers? What resources and systems can we leverage? How can we make results sustainable in the long term?
To be truly effective in “real life”, our cooperation initiatives must marry global consensus and tailor-made solutions specific to unique contexts. There is no room for a one-size-fits-all approach in our search for accuracy. For instance, merchants in some local markets in Sub-Saharan Africa still measure volumes of rice with tin cans – which is what best fits their context. In that case, our mission isn’t to replace a functioning system. Rather, we try to find those actors, cases and products that have the potential to foster economic growth or a safer environment by improving their quality. This empowers them to participate in the global trade network. Not by lowering barriers to access, but by providing the tools necessary to “plug in” to the internationally recognized quality infrastructure.
Collaborating for quality
Metrology and standardization are both integral ingredients of the quality infrastructure. So, the simple fact is that this infrastructure cannot function without International Standards. In that light, international organizations like ISO, as well as national standards bodies like DIN, are obvious and necessary cooperation partners for us. Standards such as ISO 17025, for example, support us in the testing and calibration of instruments in metrology laboratories. Others like ISO 17020 specify requirements for the competence, impartiality and consistency of organizations performing inspections.
A new topic is the circular economy: in Colombia, we are supporting our partners in the development of a product standard for “black slag”, a by-product of steel production. Together with key stakeholders from quality infrastructure and the industry, slag parameters are being defined and measurement methods are being further developed so that the slag can be transformed from a by-product into a “raw material”, e.g. for road construction. We also support the national standardization institutes in their work on the ISO technical committee on circular economy (ISO/TC 323).
On a higher level, PTB and ISO have been cooperating towards sustainable development for many years across the globe through common training measures, awareness creation activities and events – especially through the Capacity Building team. The recent Standards Engage! project, for example, had two main objectives: to increase effective stakeholder engagement in the standardization work of national standards bodies; and to enhance the recognition of the value and benefit of standards by public- and private-sector stakeholders in developing countries.
It is a luxury to have no grey areas. At PTB, our mission is to make that luxury a common good. But for this to happen, we must stay true to what is true. Together, metrology and standardization contribute to an internationally recognized quality infrastructure that fosters sustainable economic, social and ecological development. Weaving it into the foundations of the modern world benefits everyone, everywhere.
