COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT Accompanying the document Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the participation of the Union in the European Partnership on Metrology jointly undertaken by several Member States
Date: 2021-02-23
Institutions: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission
Subjects: EU financing arrangements, EU programme, competitiveness, innovation, metrology, research and development, scientific cooperation

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 23.2.2021  SWD(2021) 36 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT  Accompanying the document Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the participation of the Union in the European Partnership on Metrology jointly undertaken by several Member States  {COM(2021) 89 final} - {SEC(2021) 91 final} - {SWD(2021) 35 final}  
 
 
Executive Summary Sheet 

Impact assessment on the European Partnership on Metrology 

A. Need for action 

What is the problem and why is it a problem at EU level?  

Metrology is the scientific study of measurement. It is a key enabler of economic and social activity and a public 
good. Currently, metrology research programmes lack impact at EU level due to fragmentation of activities and 
duplication of effort across Member States. This is at a time when Europe faces increased global competition in 
metrology because of the growing need for metrology solutions targeting emerging technologies and new product 
development. Moreover, the increase in societal challenges requiring trustworthy standards and regulations makes it 
urgent to address the lack of embedment of metrology in the innovation system at European level. 

What should be achieved? 

By 2030, the initiative should provide metrology solutions at least equal to the top global performers via specialised 
pan-European networks. These metrology solutions should support sales of new innovative products and services 
with the adoption and use of key emerging technologies. The solutions should also contribute to the effective design 
and implementation of specific standards and regulations that underpin public policies addressing societal 
challenges.  

What is the value added of action at the EU level (subsidiarity)?  

EU-level support to date has demonstrated the scope for fostering significant levels of integration of metrology 
research efforts across Europe. To date, integration has been driven by bottom-up project level collaboration. Given 
its growing importance in facilitating emerging technologies and responding to societal challenges, a more strategic 
approach to integration of metrology efforts is required to strengthen the directionality of research. Accordingly, the 
added value of action at EU level beyond 2020 will derive from the development and implementation of a more 
programmatic approach that targets metrology research on areas of emerging technological and societal importance.  

B. Solutions 

What are the various options to achieve the objectives? Is there a preferred option or not? If not, why? 

The baseline option is funding through calls in the work programme of Horizon Europe. This option will not permit 
leveraging of institutionalised national funding into the actions. Impact would be confined to the output of the 
individual projects. 

The second option is to create a co-funded partnership in which a consortium of national metrology institutes jointly 
funds actions together with Horizon Europe. The scope for participation of entities external to the consortium of 
metrology institutes will be limited under this option. 

The third option is an institutionalised partnership under Article 185 TFEU. On the basis of up-front commitments 
for the full-period of the initiative, it will leverage institutionalised national funding towards a long-term system of 
sustainable European metrology networks that will focus on building up metrology research capacity at EU level in 
key areas impacting on emerging technologies and societal challenges. This funding option will offer the scope to 
engage a broad range of external participants along a ‘metrology value chain’, including standards-setters and 
regulators as well as industry and other end-users. For these reasons, this is the preferred option. 

What are different stakeholders' views? Who supports which option?  

The stakeholder views are consistent across all types of respondents, and indicate that the institutional partnership 
option under Article 185 is preferred because of the potential it offers to implement a long-term, strategic and 
programmatic approach. 

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C. Impacts of the preferred option 

What are the benefits of the preferred option (if any, otherwise of main ones)?                                     

The economic benefits have both a direct and indirect component. The direct component is the increased sales of 
instrumentation and linked services in industry. This is estimated at EUR 50 million a year. In addition, the 
objective of promoting innovation in strategic application areas indirectly has a further long-term leveraged impact 
on sales. The social and environmental benefits are directly related to the specialised metrology networks. The 
networks provide specific metrology solutions for all stakeholders along the metrology value chain, including 
industry, end-users and citizens.  

What are the costs of the preferred option (if any, otherwise of main ones)?                                    

The main costs are linked to the administration costs of the initiative, which is capped at 5% of the total budget. 
Previous initiatives under Article 185 TFEU have reported a lower percentage than this. 

What are the impacts on SMEs and competitiveness?  

By facilitating uptake and exploitation of emerging technologies, the initiative will support SMEs and large 
enterprises in capturing global market share through sales of new innovative products and services, so enhancing 
competitiveness. By supporting the development and implementation of fit-for-purpose standards and regulations, 
the initiative will reduce compliance costs for business, thus further enhancing competitiveness. 

Will there be significant impacts on national budgets and administrations?  

By pooling resources and focusing on common strategic priorities, the initiative will enable Member States to 
increase the efficiency of their public investments and enhance the return in terms of the scale of economic and 
societal impacts realised. In terms of financial commitment, the impact would be that national funding would be 
allocated for the full duration of the initiative. The administrative burden at national level should be reduced by the 
management of the initiative at European level through a dedicated implementation structure. 

Will there be other significant impacts?  

The initiative will enable Europe to maintain its global leadership in metrology research by at least matching our 
competitors in targeting metrology funding on strategic priorities. 

The initiative will enable Europe to respond more effectively to the current rapid rate of social transition by 
developing fit-for-purpose measurement solutions to address societal challenges in areas such as health, 
environment and energy. This will also increase Europe’s capacity to respond effectively to global emergencies, 
such as the COVID-19 pandemic  

The initiative will enable Europe to become a leader in defining fair and transparent international trade rules and in 
responding to global emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Proportionality?  

The preferred option is the only option achieving all objectives. 

D. Follow up 

When will the policy be reviewed?  

A mid-term review will be carried out at the latest end 2024 that will, among other things, assess progress towards 
realising the objectives, including an exit strategy based on pan-European networks. 

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