Resolution 2 of the 23rd CGPM (2007)

On the report of the International Committee to the General Conference on Evolving Needs for Metrology in Trade, Industry and Society, and the Role of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM)

The 23rd General Conference,

considering

• Resolution 5 of the 22nd General Conference which noted the report on the long-term needs related to metrology, and which invited the International Committee to keep a careful watch on the increasing demands placed on National Metrology Institutes and the BIPM in relation to evolving needs,
• the request of the 22nd General Conference to the International Committee to report to the 23rd General Conference on the adequacy of the response of the BIPM to meet these needs, together with any financial and programme implications there may be in meeting such international needs through the activities of the BIPM, and to update its 2003 Report,

notes

• the continuing rise of requirements for improved measurement standards; for adoption of metrological concepts in new areas; and for an increase in national and international resources to address such issues,
• the relevance of metrology to trade, innovation and emerging technologies,
• the initiatives taken by the BIPM and the Consultative Committees of the International Committee to liaise, and collaborate, with an increasing number of intergovernmental organizations and international bodies with responsibilities in areas such as environment and climate change, health, food, drugs, and forensic work,
• that as a result of this collaboration, there has been an expansion of the impact and influence of the scientific and technical activities carried out under the auspices of the Metre Convention,

welcomes

• the updated report "Evolving Needs for Metrology in Trade, Industry and Society, and the Role of the BIPM", presented to the 23rd General Conference,
• the initiatives taken by the International Committee to address the issues of traceability in materials metrology,
• proposals to address a number of these evolving needs in the BIPM programme of work,
• thanks the many organizations and individuals who contributed to the report of the International Committee, and

invites

• the International Committee, Member States, and National Metrology Institutes to support initiatives to intensify the impact of concepts such as traceability to the International System of Units and uncertainty of measurement into as many areas of economic and societal activity as possible,
• the International Committee to identify the highest priorities for improved metrology in areas such as nanotechnology, biosciences, medicine, food and environmental measurements and to prepare proposals for initiatives to be taken by the BIPM at the international level,
• National Metrology Institutes to address evolving needs and to note the liaison and other work of the BIPM at the intergovernmental and international level so as to develop the collaborations necessary to pursue them at a national level,
• the International Committee to report to the next General Conference on the adequacy of the response of the BIPM to meet these needs and to consider whether they have implications for the coordination or the laboratory work of the BIPM and to come forward, if necessary, to the 24th General Conference with proposals in the BIPM programme of work for 2013-2016,
• the International Committee to continue to report to subsequent General Conferences on evolving needs in metrology.

DOI : 10.59161/CGPM2007RES2E