27/10/2009

A new three-year project has been launched which will bring together European and Turkish experts in measurement science. The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) will work with scientists from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) and the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK).

The three-year project is funded by the European Union under the instrument for pre-accession assistance (IPA), and it aims at providing Turkey's citizens an increased quality of life in areas such as environment, health, food safety and consumer protection through an enhanced measurement infrastructure. A well-functioning measurement infrastructure is also necessary for the adoption of the body of European laws known as the acquis communautaire, thus supporting the accession of Turkey to the EU.
 
The history of metrology in Turkey can be traced back to 1875 when the Ottoman Empire signed the Metre Convention as one of the original signatories. Today, metrology underpins the free movement of goods and the smooth functioning of the international agreements such as the EU-Turkey Customs Agreement.

What activities will be carried out?

Through the project, the JRC's Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements will provide consultancy, training and support to the highest metrological institutes of Turkey, i.e. the National Metrology Institute (TÜBİTAK-UME) and to the Sarayköy and Çekmece Nuclear Research and Training Centers (SANAEM and ÇNAEM) of TAEK.

The JRC's Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements will also provide training in the field of chemical and ionising radiation metrology to laboratories and universities, in order for them to optimise the use of services they obtain from the National Metrology Institute, and to help them incorporate metrology-related subjects into educational curricula.


More information

JRC-IRMM Turkey project webpage

Press release from the Delegation of the European Commission to Turkey

Project contact: