National Physical Laboratory

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the UK's National Measurement Institute and is a world-leading centre of excellence in developing and applying the most accurate measurement standards, science and technology available to man. NPL ensures that cutting edge measurement science and technology have a positive impact in the real world. NPL delivers world-leading measurement solutions that are critical to commercial research and development, and support business success across the UK and the globe.  
 
The Measurement for Innovators programme is designed to promote innovation by linking industry with the world class expertise and facilities contained within the UK's National Measurement Institutes (NMI) - NPL, LGC, NEL and NWML  
 
There are three activities - each designed to tackle a different type of problem:  
 
Consultancies 
 
These are designed to allow world-class NMS experts to work with SME's to provide advice for a measurement problem at no cost to the recipient. Each consultancy is limited to four days or less, and specific advice on a product or service will be provided.  
 
Secondments  
 
Secondments are designed to develop tacit learning and networking by transferring people in and out of the NMIs for a limited time. The secondments can be to or from industry, academia or other suitable UK organisations.  
 
Joint Industry Projects (JIPs)  
 
These allow the NMIs and industry to work together in a multi-partner project, lasting less than a year, to solve measurement problems (in product or method development).