Ljubljana, 10 February 2014 – The Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, acting as the Managing Authority for EU Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund, issued a decision awarding EU funds for the project “Metrology system infrastructure – national measurement standard for mass and volume”. The value of the project, which will contribute to the improvement of the metrology system and lowering the costs in the field of economy, is 324,700.00 euros. The European Regional Development Fund contribution amounts to a little under 276 thousand euros.
Measurements in the field of mass and volume are considered one of the broadest areas of metrology. All weighing is traceable to the national standard of mass. Weighing for billing (sales of food, pre-packaged products and various goods) is very extensive, other areas are also important (pharmaceuticals, internal control in industry, research). Measuring volume is crucial in pharmacy and health care and is extremely important also for marketing and billing of energy-generating products and alcohol.
For smooth and efficient operation of the entire metrology system in the country and its development in line with the strategic guidelines of Slovenia to open up to the European and international markets, it is essential to have modern measuring equipment. If we want to follow the European trends it is, above all, crucial to ensure competitiveness in the global market for product manufacturers and enable accurate and reliable measurement for users.
In the framework of the project, which is implemented by the Metrology Institute of the Republic of Slovenia, modern equipment for the requirements of national measurement standard for mass and volume will be purchased, thereby primarily enabling to implement tasks of ensuring traceability at the highest level in accordance with national needs.
With the new equipment in the field of volume we will meet the needs of ensuring traceability and implementation of inter-laboratory comparisons. Especially the industry, which is focused on new technologies as well as optimizing the existing technologies, is looking for metrological services; mainly in terms of improved measurement capabilities (low measurement uncertainty). With improved measurement capabilities, the Metrology Institute of the Republic of Slovenia will reduce the needs for abroad calibration.