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How NPL can help in the fight against COVID19

Measurement for Recovery

Building confidence in the future

An NPL-led programme to help boost competitiveness and resilience


NPL and its partner National Measurement Laboratories – NML at LGC, NIBSC, TUV-NEL and NGML – are committed to supporting the UK Government’s plans for economic recovery by providing specialist measurement advice and short-term projects to companies at no charge.

NPL’s leadership of the M4R programme is just one of the many ways it is supporting the national effort and responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

What is the Measurement for Recovery programme?

World-leading measurement solutions are critical to business and government, accelerating research and innovation, improving quality of life and enabling trade.

Measurement for Recovery helps solve analysis or measurement issues that cannot be resolved using standard technologies and techniques. Our aim is to help boost resilience and competitiveness by bringing together the UK’s top scientists and facilities with companies, to address problems in innovative ways.

What can our specialist services do for your company?

  • Provide measurement and analysis expertise
  • Investigate the feasibility of concepts and validate products and processes
  • Support new products and services which directly help the national response to COVID-19
  • Help cost reduction or improve productivity
  • Increase product reliability and mitigate in-service costs
  • Offer advice on standards and regulatory needs

Who is involved?

NPL is working with partner National Measurement Laboratories from the National Measurement System. Together we have some of the most advanced facilities, techniques and technologies available in the world and we can match the best scientists and facilities with companies that have analysis or measurement problems.

LGC Design unitNIBSCNEL

All UK companies can apply

To be eligible to apply, you must be:

  • A UK company registered at Companies House
  • Within your de minimis allocation (less than 200,000 euros of government funding over a three-year period)

    • Click for de minimis guidance


    Companies who fit the criteria can apply using our online form. We will aim to respond to you within 3 working days.
    This programme does not pay for standard measurement and test services available commercially by NPL or other suppliers.

    Apply here

    What we offer

    • Access to scientific experts and their lab facilities
    • A maximum provision of 20 days specialist advice per project – this is paying for the expert’s time and facilities, and is not a financial grant to the company
    • Analysis, results and reports completed within the maximum 20 allocated days
    • Measurement for Recovery is currently open until the end of 2020

    Working with NPL gave us access to the latest chemical analysis technology which allowed us to solve a problem well beyond our capabilities and identify a solution. This overcame a major roadblock to manufacturing the final product on a commercial scale.

    Tim Dwyer - Research and Development Director at AgPlus Diagnostics

    Link to full story

    Measurement science that delivers impact

    We have supported many organisations through a number of schemes and programmes including the Analysis for Innovators programme.

    Companies have reported the following tangible impacts:

    • Sales, licensing and cost reductions of up to £125 million
    • 82% of companies said their commercial opportunity has greatly or moderately increased
    • Companies estimate project impacts to last for 7 years on average
    • Companies involved in completed projects tell us they typically improve their Technology Readiness Level (TRL)

    See below examples of the work and specialist advice we have provided.

    SteelRock

    SteelRock created a capability to counter the threat of unauthorised drone usage. With NPL they were able to commercialise the product, which is safe to operate, safe to the surrounding environment and effective in identifying its target

    Adaptix

    Developing innovative materials for low-cost 3D medical imaging. Adaptix has developed a solution to the combined shortcomings of existing technologies: a novel X-ray source that allows low-cost, truly portable 3D scans.

    Making rapid, portable diagnostics possible

    NPL helps AgPlus solve materials chemistry challenge, unblocking the route to mass producing its diagnostic devices.

    Find out more

    Piston ring manufacturer doubles throughput

    There are a small number of piston ring manufacturers in the world for these types of ring and they struggle to meet global demand.

    Find out more

    Reducing erosion on wind turbine blades

    ETC worked with NPL to explore techniques for measuring material erosion during the testing process.

    Find out more

    Work with us

    Our research and measurement solutions support innovation and product development. We work with companies to deliver business advantage and commercial success.
    Contact our Customer Services team on +44 20 8943 7070

    General enquiry