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For people, place, prosperity and planet, we deliver impact with measurement science.

COVID-19 response

Measurement for Recovery

Supporting companies to recover and grow

NPL launched the Measurement for Recovery (M4R) programme in July 2020 to ensure measurement science was available to UK industry during the COVID-19 crisis when businesses were facing multiple challenges including cash flow, job security and investment in innovation. Working with our partner laboratories that make up the National Measurement System, M4R was designed to address and solve the challenges by matching businesses with world-leading measurement scientists and engineers, techniques and technologies, and providing up to 20 days specialist science and engineering expertise free of charge.

M4R was a Department for Science, Innovation and Technology-funded programme which received over 600 applications, with over 80% from micro or small businesses. Challenges ranged from design, manufacturing, production and processing, through to regulatory compliance and standards. NPL helped to deliver innovation, uncover efficiencies and bring confidence to decision making and investment to drive growth for UK industry. We supported over 400 businesses who required rapid advice to assist their response and recovery activities.

M4R helped to ensure that the UK's measurement infrastructure is utilised in the economic recovery, to unleash innovation and make the UK a great place to work and do business.

Find out about M4R

Impact during COVID-19

  • Ensured fast and efficient access to world leading measurement and scientific experts  

  • Gave reliable independent advice on technical issues, measurement challenges and standards
  • Provided confidence to UK companies
  • Investigated the feasibility of concepts and validating products and  processes
  • Reduced costs and improving productivity

Find out what our customers said

“NPL literally leads the world in scientific measurement. It's been a privilege to have NPL put our technology through its paces.”

“With a greater understanding of the data required and the support of the independent analysis provided by the NPL team, we are now able to take the next crucial step in our development."

“NPL has helped us to become more efficient (time and cost) in our product development by increasing our characterisation process whilst implementing COVID socially distanced and reduced staff working” 

“We are a lot more confident that we will succeed in our CE test, and that's going to impact us significantly because we will get to market sooner and turn over products and revenue sooner.”

“The M4R support will enable us to access the globally recognised scientific expertise at NPL, helping us to accelerate our technology development.”

“The expertise and access to state-of-the-art metrology equipment has allowed us to benchmark each phase of the development and give confidence that we can move on to the next stage.”

Contact 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