The Commission presents an interim evaluation of the European Metrology Research Programme, established by No 912/2009/EC, when the EU agreed to participate in a joint research programme called European Metrology Research Programme – EMRP, with a contribution of up to EUR 200 million for the period 2009-2017, equivalent to the contributions of the 22 Participating States. The participating States agreed to propose EURAMET e.V.3 as dedicated implementation structure to implement the EMRP. The dedicated implementation structure should be the recipient of the Union financial contribution and should ensure the efficient execution of the EMRP.

The core activity of the EMRP consists of funding multi-partner trans-national projects addressing research, technological development, training and dissemination activities (EMRP projects). In view of the concentrated capacities in metrology, the core part of the EMRP projects is executed by National Metrology Institutes and Designated Institutes (namely, specialist institutes responsible for certain national standards and associated services that are not covered by the activities of the National Metrology Institutes) from the participating States. In order to increase and diversify capacities in metrology, the EMRP also funds several researcher grant schemes that complement the EMRP projects.

An expert panel supported the Commission in this evaluation with its findings and issued the interim evaluation report which provides an in-depth analysis of EMRP concerning the progress towards the initial objectives as well as recommendations on the most appropriate ways to further enhance integration and the quality and efficiency of this initiative.

Findings: having started in 2009, the EMRP operational performance has achieved maturity as a joint research programme between 22 Participating States, implemented by EURAMET e.V. The integration between the participating national programmes is considered high. The Commission will therefore continue to support the current programme as provided in the EMRP Decision.

The EMRP is performing well after 3 years to most of its initial operational objectives in what concerns nearly 85% of the EMRP resources, namely the pooling of excellence in metrology research. However there are significant gaps between expectation and reality in relation to three qualitative impact indicators:

- Capacity building: the Panel states that the EMRP is not having the desired effect in terms of capacity building in those countries with limited or no metrology research capability. While some countries have taken advantage of the programme to build capacity in strategic areas of interest, the capacity gap with the most research-intensive countries seems to increase. It should also be noted that the mechanisms in the existing EMRP related to opening of the system to the best science and the capacity building have been based mainly on the grant system within EMRP. It seems that the financial capacity of the grant system itself is not the major bottleneck. The Panel recalled that the existing EMRP is designed by the EMRP Decision as a research programme striving towards scientific excellence with its specific operational processes and financial instruments and the running EMRP cannot easily support the complex issue of capacity building. In this respect the Panel has given interesting and important recommendations for a potential longer-term future of the EMRP. The Commission fully endorses the recommendation to use expert facilitators to foster better inclusion of those countries with limited metrology research capacity with the aim of closing the gap with the more advanced countries.

- Interaction with scientific community : in contrast to the great success of pooling excellence in the core metrology community itself, the opening of the system to the best science has so far been limited. The Panel reports a clear external perception that the EMRP still seems to be rather closed to the wider European research community. The Commission therefore encourages EURAMET e.V. to explore ways to better use the grant schemes to foster links with the best centres of excellence across Europe.

- Mobility: a major barrier for the small and developing national metrology institutes is their limited capability to participate with expert staff in EMRP projects and their limited financial resources. The Panel is of the opinion that this creates a strong risk that the existing gap in competence and capabilities between the well established, big metrology institutes and the developing, small metrology institutes will become bigger instead of smaller.

The Commission shares the Panel's view that the capacity gap between the Participating Countries seems to increase in some cases and agrees with the Panel opinion that the Researcher Grant System could be used more effectively to increase further the possibilities for countries with limited metrology research capacities. The Commission fully endorses the Panel recommendation to explore the degree of flexibility that could be applied to the management of the mobility grants to overcome the relocation barrier.

EURAMET e.V. and the EMRP Committee as the highest instances in the EMRP governance are invited to make all necessary efforts to improve this situation in the remaining period of the programme. While no changes to the initial Decision are considered necessary the above mentioned Panel recommendations should be implemented by EURAMET e.V. as well as any additional measure that EURAMET members may consider useful or necessary to improve the capacity building, the interaction with the wider scientific community and the mobility within the EMRP.

Lastly, the Commission will engage with EURAMET e.V. in preliminary discussions on the possible follow up for the current EMRP in the context of the next programming period, without prejudice to the final decision about HORIZON 2020 and the EU Multi-Annual Financial Framework, taking into consideration the wider political context of the Europe 2020 strategy.

COM(2012)0174
EUR-Lex

PURPOSE: to enable the participation by the Community in a European metrology research and development programme (EMRP) undertaken by several Member States.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision No 912/2009/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the participation by the Community in a European metrology research and development programme undertaken by several Member States.

CONTENT: the Council adopted a decision approving participation by the EU in a European metrology research programme, following an agreement reached with the European Parliament at first reading.

The EU's seventh research framework programme (2007-2013) provides for Community participation in research and development programmes undertaken by several Member States, including participation in the structures created for the execution of those programmes.

The decision will enable the Community to make a contribution of up to EUR 200 million to the future European metrology research programme (EMRP).

The EMRP will be undertaken jointly by 19 EU Member States (Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom) plus three third countries (Norway, Switzerland and Turkey), with a view to establishing the necessary legal and organisational framework for large-scale cooperation on metrology research and responding to growing demand in Europe for cutting-edge metrology, particularly in emerging technological areas.

Metrology, the science of measurement, is a cross-disciplinary field and a vital component of a modern knowledge-based society. Reliable and comparable measurement standards and appropriate validated measuring and test methods underpin the processes of scientific advancement and technological innovation and thus have a significant impact on the economy and the quality of life.

The core activity of the EMRP shall consist of funding multi-partner trans-national EMRP projects addressing research, technological development, training and dissemination activities (EMRP projects). In view of the concentrated capacities in metrology, the core part of the EMRP projects shall be executed by National Metrology Institutes and Designated Institutes (namely, specialist institutes responsible for certain national standards and associated services that are not covered by the activities of the National Metrology Institutes) from participating States.

In order to increase and diversify capacities in metrology, the EMRP shall also fund several researcher grant schemes which shall complement the EMRP projects.

At the end of Community participation in the EMRP but no later than in 2017, the Commission shall, with the assistance of an independent expert group, conduct a final evaluation of the general, specific and operational objectives of the EMRP. This group shall base its assessment on, inter alia, the following indicators:

the scientific excellence of the projects and grants awarded as measured by the number of publications, patents and other scientific output indicators; the level of participation in the programme by outside researchers and research institutions; the increase in metrology capacity of Member States and countries associated to the Seventh Framework Programme whose metrology programmes are at an early stage of development; the number and quality of training activities; the number and quality of activities related to metrology communication and diffusion.

The results of the final evaluation shall be presented to the European Parliament and the Council.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 03/10/2009.

Decision 2009/912
OJ L 257 30.09.2009, p. 0012

03661/2009/LEX

SP(2009)3507

CES0617/2009

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted by 661 votes to 11, with 4 abstentions, a legislative resolution modifying, under the first reading of the codecision procedure, the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the participation by the Community in a European metrology research and development programme undertaken by several Member States.

The amendments were the result of a compromise negotiated with the Council.

The term “contribution” that appeared in the initial proposal has been replaced by “financial contribution” throughout the text.

In relation to annual reporting and evaluation of the programme, an amendment states that the Commission shall, with the assistance of an independent expert group, conduct a final evaluation of the general, specific and operational objectives of the programme. This group shall base its assessment on, inter alia, the following indicators:

the scientific excellence of the projects and grants awarded as measured by the number of publications, patents and other scientific output indicators; the level of participation in the programme by outside researchers and research institutions; the increase in metrology capacity of Member States and countries associated with the Seventh Framework Programme whose metrology programmes are at an early stage of development; the number and quality of training activities; the number and quality of activities related to metrology communication and diffusion.

T6-0224/2009

A6-0221/2009

A6-0221/2009

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted the report drawn up by Erika MANN (PES, DE) amending, under the first reading of the codecision procedure, the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the participation by the Community in a European metrology research and development programme undertaken by several Member States.

In relation to annual reporting and evaluation of the programme, an amendment states that the Commission shall, with the assistance of an independent expert group, conduct a final evaluation of the general, specific and operational objectives of the programme. This group shall base its assessment on, inter alia, the following indicators:

the scientific excellence of the projects and grants awarded as measured by the number of publications, patents and other scientific output indicators; the level of participation in the programme by outside researchers and research institutions; the increase in metrology capacity of Member States and countries associated with the Seventh Framework Programme whose metrology programmes are at an early stage of development; the number and quality of training activities; the number and quality of activities related to metrology communication and diffusion.

PE420.127

PE418.187

PURPOSE: to enable the participation by the Community in a European metrology research and development programme (EMRP) undertaken by several Member States.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

BACKGROUND: Decision No 1982/2006/EC concerning the 7 th R&D Framework Programme (2007-2013) provides for Community participation in research and development programmes undertaken by several Member States, including participation in the structures created for the execution of those programmes, within the meaning of Article 169 of the Treaty.

Metrology is a cross-disciplinary scientific field which is a vital component of a modern knowledge-based society. Metrology research has a strong public-good character and is a main supporting activity for government regulation and standardisation. All major economic powers in the world have recognized that technology R&D in metrology is critical to an advanced nation’s long term economic growth. Reliable and comparable measurement standards, appropriate validated measuring and test methods underpin the processes of scientific advancement and technological innovation and thus have a significant impact on economy and quality of lives within Europe.

The actors in European metrology research form a specialised community loosely linked to research organisations or academia. It is highly fragmented, comprising a few centres of global excellence which would benefit from wide competition on an international scale.

The European potential in metrology research is not fully exploited. Joint action between Member States and the Community is needed in order to provide for a modern research effort in metrology.

CONTENT: the purpose of this proposal, based on Article 169 of the EC Treaty is to establish a European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP) bringing together 22 national metrology research programmes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public metrology research. It aims to contribute to structuring the European Research Area through better coordination, thereby tackling common European challenges, increasing the impact of these programmes and removing barriers between national programmes.

The following Member States or associated countries to the Framework Programme 7 (FP7) are involved: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom as well as Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission may be an Associate to the programme.

This initiative was announced in the FP7 Cooperation Specific Programme. The EMRP initiative has a planned national contribution of participating countries of EUR 200 million including a flexibility at national level of up to 50% of national contribution and an expected Community contribution of EUR 200 million .

The EMRP will accelerate the development, validation and exploitation of new measuring techniques, standards, processes, instruments, reference materials and knowledge aimed at driving innovative developments in industry and commerce, improving the quality of data for science, industry and policymaking and supporting the development and implementation of directives and regulations.

The EMRP will achieve these objectives in the following way:

Pooling excellence in metrology research - by creating competitive joint research projects marshalling capability for sufficient critical mass from the networks of National Metrology Institutes (NMI) and Designated Institutes (DI) from the participating States to tackle major metrology challenges faced at European level; Openness of the system to best science - by increasing participation from the wider European researcher community through researcher grants; Capacity building - by increasing the capability of the European metrology researcher community through researcher mobility grants targeting those EURAMET Member Countries with limited metrology research capability.

The EMRP will complement ongoing national programmes and activities aimed at addressing purely national priorities.

COM(2008)0814
EUR-Lex

EUR-Lex
SEC(2008)2948

EUR-Lex
SEC(2008)2949

PURPOSE: to enable the participation by the Community in a European metrology research and development programme (EMRP) undertaken by several Member States.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

BACKGROUND: Decision No 1982/2006/EC concerning the 7 th R&D Framework Programme (2007-2013) provides for Community participation in research and development programmes undertaken by several Member States, including participation in the structures created for the execution of those programmes, within the meaning of Article 169 of the Treaty.

Metrology is a cross-disciplinary scientific field which is a vital component of a modern knowledge-based society. Metrology research has a strong public-good character and is a main supporting activity for government regulation and standardisation. All major economic powers in the world have recognized that technology R&D in metrology is critical to an advanced nation’s long term economic growth. Reliable and comparable measurement standards, appropriate validated measuring and test methods underpin the processes of scientific advancement and technological innovation and thus have a significant impact on economy and quality of lives within Europe.

The actors in European metrology research form a specialised community loosely linked to research organisations or academia. It is highly fragmented, comprising a few centres of global excellence which would benefit from wide competition on an international scale.

The European potential in metrology research is not fully exploited. Joint action between Member States and the Community is needed in order to provide for a modern research effort in metrology.

CONTENT: the purpose of this proposal, based on Article 169 of the EC Treaty is to establish a European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP) bringing together 22 national metrology research programmes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public metrology research. It aims to contribute to structuring the European Research Area through better coordination, thereby tackling common European challenges, increasing the impact of these programmes and removing barriers between national programmes.

The following Member States or associated countries to the Framework Programme 7 (FP7) are involved: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom as well as Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission may be an Associate to the programme.

This initiative was announced in the FP7 Cooperation Specific Programme. The EMRP initiative has a planned national contribution of participating countries of EUR 200 million including a flexibility at national level of up to 50% of national contribution and an expected Community contribution of EUR 200 million .

The EMRP will accelerate the development, validation and exploitation of new measuring techniques, standards, processes, instruments, reference materials and knowledge aimed at driving innovative developments in industry and commerce, improving the quality of data for science, industry and policymaking and supporting the development and implementation of directives and regulations.

The EMRP will achieve these objectives in the following way:

Pooling excellence in metrology research - by creating competitive joint research projects marshalling capability for sufficient critical mass from the networks of National Metrology Institutes (NMI) and Designated Institutes (DI) from the participating States to tackle major metrology challenges faced at European level; Openness of the system to best science - by increasing participation from the wider European researcher community through researcher grants; Capacity building - by increasing the capability of the European metrology researcher community through researcher mobility grants targeting those EURAMET Member Countries with limited metrology research capability.

The EMRP will complement ongoing national programmes and activities aimed at addressing purely national priorities.

COM(2008)0814
EUR-Lex