European metrology programme for innovation and research (EMPIR)

EMPIR is a joint programme focusing on metrology and measurement technologies. It aims to create an integrated European metrology research system.

ACT

Decision No 555/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the participation of the Union in a European metrology programme for innovation and research (EMPIR) jointly undertaken by several Member States

SUMMARY

EMPIR, which follows up on the European metrology research programme (EMRP), is co-funded by the European Union’s (EU) Horizon 2020 programme and the national budgets of the participating countries. The EU participates in this joint programme on the basis of Article 185 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (public-public partnership).

Objectives

EMPIR is aimed at supporting the creation of an integrated European metrology research system that is active at the regional, national, European and international levels.

A further goal is to provide appropriate and integrated metrology solutions supporting competitiveness, as well as measurement technologies addressing societal challenges (e.g. health, environment and energy).

Focus

EMPIR includes activities on:

Participation and funding

Participation in EMPIR projects takes place in line with Horizon 2020 rules for participation and dissemination (Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013) and the specific derogations contained in this EMPIR decision.

A list of Euramet national metrology institutes (NMIs) and designated institutes (DIs) eligible to participate in EMPIR projects is provided on the EMPIR participant portal.

Implementation

Euramet, the European regional metrology organisation, has been designated by the participating countries to implement EMPIR. Euramet organises the calls for proposals, the peer-review evaluation and the selection and monitoring of projects, as well as the allocation of the EU contribution.

EMPIR is implemented on the basis of annual work plans. Financial support mainly takes the form of grants to selected projects.

EURAMET invites interested individuals or organisations from the metrology research community and users to suggest potential research topics before identifying the topics for each call for proposal.

Budget

The EU’s financial contribution to the programme is up to €300 million. This covers the period 2014-2024. This contribution is equivalent to that paid by the participating countries to EMPIR projects, excluding the contributions of the participating countries to administrative costs exceeding 5 % of the EMPIR budget.

The contribution of the participating countries consists of payments made through institutional funding from the NMIs in EU and European free trade association countries, as well as from the DIs participating in EMPIR.

For more information, see:

RELATED ACTS

Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing Horizon 2020 - the framework programme for research and innovation (2014-2020) and repealing Decision No 1982/2006/EC (Official Journal L 347 of 20.12.2013, pp. 104-173).

Council Decision 2013/743/EU of 3 December 2013 establishing the specific programme implementing Horizon 2020 - the framework programme for research and innovation (2014-2020) and repealing Decisions 2006/971/EC, 2006/972/EC, 2006/973/EC, 2006/974/EC and 2006/975/EC (Official Journal L 347 of 20.12.2013, pp. 965-1041).

Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 laying down the rules for participation and dissemination in ‘Horizon 2020 - the framework programme for research and innovation (2014-2020)’ and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1906/2006 (Official Journal L 347, 20.12.2013, pp. 81-103).

Last updated: 06.08.2015