F.P. Report
BRUSSELS: EU ambassadors gave their support to the political agreement reached with the European Parliament on 28 September on the European partnership on metrology. The partnership is one of the priority areas in the package of proposals for institutionalised European partnerships under Horizon Europe. This endorsement brings the finalisation of the partnerships package a step closer.
“We are very pleased with the endorsement for the provisional agreement on the metrology file. The European partnership on metrology aims to promote academic freedom and scientific integrity, which are key topics for the Slovenian presidency. It ensures that we can develop public policies to address societal, economic and environmental challenges.”
The main elements contained in the provisionally agreed text include that EURAMET (the European association of national metrology institutes) will ensure the implementation of the metrology partnership by managing the EU’s financial contribution. This contribution will be up to €300 million. Participating states’ contributions will cover administrative costs, which are capped at 5% of the partnership’s total budget.
In general, the partnership on metrology aims to:
- develop new research capabilities within the framework of new European metrology networks by 2030
- support sales of new innovative products and services through the use and adoption of new metrology capabilities in emerging technologies by 2030
- contribute to the design and implementation of specific standards and regulations by 2030
- contribute to achieving the EU’s goals for the digital and green transitions
To ensure the programme’s transparency and openness, the decision proposes that calls for proposals by the metrology partnership should be published on the Horizon Europe portal in a timely and user-friendly manner, and that they should be widely promoted and advertised to increase participation of newcomers.
