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‘NPL’s perspective on the future of metrology’ has today been published in an update to the 2020 Technology and Measurement Foresighting Report.
Over the last few years, the speed of political, technological and environmental change has increased, which has impacted the needs placed on metrology and the solutions it must provide. The international metrology community has been working at pace, which has made it appropriate that we revisit and update the findings from our 2020 foresighting exercise.
“This report reviews the key challenges that metrologists are facing,” says JT Janssen, Chief Scientist. “We recommend that all researchers need to have a “metrology mindset” and also consider how the role of an NMI will evolve.”
The report reviews the main trends forecast for the future of metrology: digitalisation, complex systems and confidence in decision making. Richard Brown, NPL’s Head of Metrology says: “NPL is developing its views on the future of metrology and the evolving role of the NMI, so we can effectively support industry, scientific research and society. More broadly all researchers with a “metrology mindset” and a toolbox of approaches will have the skills and preparedness to innovate and demonstrate the validity of their conclusions.”
Josephine Bunch, NPL Fellow, reflects: “As the pace of change increases and problems become more complex, NMIs will be at the forefront of helping to unravel complex interconnected systems, such as disease pathways, quantum technologies, weather and climate. Innovation in measurement science and agile thinking will enable future scenarios and challenges to be tackled with confidence.”
Read NPL's perspective on the future of metrology (PDF)
Find out more about NPL’s 2025 update of Technology and Measurement Foresighting
06 Nov 2025