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Time is sometimes called an “invisible utility”, underpinning many of the technologies we depend on in our daily lives, such as digital communications, satellite navigation systems, the energy grid and high-frequency trading. The department operates the national time scale UTC (NPL) and maintains the primary frequency standards used to realise the SI second, ensuring international equivalence through participation in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
The department uses this infrastructure to provide customers and partners with access to trusted and reliable time and frequency. T&F Department is developing compact and user-friendly frequency standards for applications in navigation, high-speed communications, security and defence.
It also undertakes a wide-ranging programme of research that pushes the boundaries of timing technologies, including optical frequency metrology towards a redefinition of the SI second and compact atomic clocks and sensors for end user applications. There are many linkages between the different areas and as a result cross-department working is common. The quality of science in the department is outstanding. The department has contributed ground-breaking research and has also been a key contributor to broad European collaborations.
The focus of this department is to ensure that we can have confidence in metrology data in a digital world. It covers data analytics, modelling, informatics, digital manufacturing and digital products.
Successful digital transformation depends on trust in measured values, data, algorithms, and mathematical and statistical procedures. Generation of trust requires development of procedures and standards that ensure the highest precision, integrity and ‘explainability’ of algorithms and data analysis methods, and that the chain of traceability back to the International System of Units (SI) be maintained throughout data processing chains.
The department enables the effective and intelligent use of data through the development of cross-disciplinary application-independent frameworks and tools to maximise the reliability and value of data throughout the data lifecycle. The department is an important national resource.
With unique expertise and knowledge of the application of quantum effects, the department has a strong base to accelerate innovation. It covers quantum electrical metrology, quantum information processing, quantum materials and quantum sensors. The department has doubled in size since 2016, reflecting research advances and metrology needs driven by worldwide quantum research and development.
The department underpins UK science and business through world-leading metrology, test and evaluation expertise, and facilities. It supports UK economic growth driven by the successful development and sale of new products and services based on quantum technologies. It also leads the UK on internationally accepted quantum standards. Quantum electrical metrology provides the UK’s primary point of reference linking the SI electrical units to industrial processes and customer products through UK traceability chains.
The department produces work of high quality, including new science, measurement capabilities for users, and services for industry. It has a strong national and international position.
This department covers electromagnetic technologies and measurements, electrochemistry, and electronic and magnetic materials. The metrology capability is wide ranging and delivers particular impact on the UK strategy challenges of national security and resilience and the Green Recovery. Priorities for the department include work on assured autonomy, smart cities, 6G communications, electrification and renewable energy. It also leads on the increasing digital focus within NMIs, and throughout industry and society.
The work of the department is diverse yet well-integrated and the enthusiasm of the team for their work and its impact was demonstrated clearly. The department has a high profile and significant levels of international influence.
This department is dedicated to advancing chemical and biological metrology at the interface between physics, chemistry and the life-sciences with a focus on innovation and healthcare. It transfers research outputs to industry through collaborative projects, VAMAS interlaboratory studies and ISO International Standards.
The range of the measurement capabilities spans nanometres to centimetres, providing a wealth of information which is essential to a wide range of industrial sectors. The department produced some of the most highly cited scientific publications at NPL. The work is generally of extremely high quality with repeated excellent testimonies from stakeholders, with expertise predominantly related to reference materials, analytical methods and data handling.
This department develops, maintains and disseminates the metrological infrastructure to enable people to live longer, healthier and more prosperous lives. It covers medical radiation physics and science, nuclear metrology, ultrasound and underwater acoustics. It is responsible for developing and maintaining primary and secondary standard measurement capabilities traceable to the realisation of the derived SI units of the becquerel, the gray and the acoustic pascal. It aims to provide confidence in data and reproducible and reliable measurements.
This is important for early diagnosis and precision in medicine, to develop the bioeconomy, to deliver net zero and a sustainable future, and to underpin sovereign defence capability. The department’s current strength lies in its well-connected, very respected and highly qualified staff, as well as its excellent facilities.
Directly supporting UK science strengths and business capabilities, this department underpins and provides the scientific evidence and intervention to manage the impact of climate change and improve air quality for the protection of human health. It has a world-class metrology capability, providing the highest point of reference for gas composition and airborne particle properties for industrial, regulatory, government and academic stakeholders.
The department responds to the measurement challenges from government and industry. It addresses the market shortfall in the UK quality infrastructure with unique facilities and expertise in the application of metrological methods in the field. It also provides scientific impartiality to inform decisions. The department delivers high quality scientific outputs, and ensures NPL holds a leading position amongst NMIs in this area.
This department realises and disseminates primary capability in thermometry, humidity measurement and radiometry, including the SI units the kelvin and candela. It has a strong focus on the impact metrology can have on societal challenges, with an emphasis on industry, environment variables and earth observation. Its measurement infrastructure underpins traceability for a very wide range of applications. The work on Earth observation and optical radiometric metrology are focused on environmental monitoring challenges, in particular, enabling accurate, traceable measurements which can be demonstrated to be equivalent. This is crucial for reliably informing climate policy.
The scientists have significant international influence, bringing metrological principles to the heart of satellite-based Earth observation through research and international collaborations, and by embedding metrological principles in key influential institutions. The research on temperature metrology has been fundamental to the redefinition of the kelvin and the department continues to provide global leadership in the resulting applications across government, industry and academia.
NPL provides the underpinning metrology to UK industry to support prosperity and innovation. This department is responsible for realising and disseminating the UK’s length and mass units, as well as derived units for force, pressure and density. It also develops metrology to establish the international materials measurement standards that support innovation and trade. NPL’s main laboratories at Teddington and its regional centre at Huddersfield offer a range of high specification measurement and calibration services and consultancy. The department provides support to the science teams across NPL to develop instrumentation, taking particular care to ensure relevant legislation is satisfied. It also provides direct support for industrial processes, engineering and manufacturing. The departmental outputs are used throughout many sectors, such as aerospace, defence, advanced manufacturing, transport, energy and nanotechnology, either through measurement services or direct third-party contract work for industrial, academic, regulatory and government customers.
NPL’s Engineering Department develops practical solutions to industrial challenges. Engineering is fundamental to commercialising research and transforming scientific concepts into real products. Measurement is at the heart of engineering, because you need to measure something in order to study and improve it.
We give industry the confidence to innovate by building the skills needed to enhance productivity and provide the measurement standards and techniques that help organisations get it 'right first time'. We provide verification for new technologies, which is vital in securing customer and investor confidence, and getting products to market more quickly.
Our experts help manufacturers be confident in the quality and quantity of their work, whether it's an aerospace engine, a turbine blade or a sub-nanometre part for a hard drive. We ensure compliance with stringent regulations and reliable measurements.
Our digital age is built on connectivity; from essential services to social interactions, networks underpin our modern way of life. Therefore, safeguarding these networks is crucial for a secure and prosperous future.
The UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL) is committed to a resilient and sustainable telecoms future. By building knowledge of secure communication systems and reducing barriers for new vendors, we're paving the way for a more resilient and innovative industry. Based in heart of the fast-growing West Midlands tech hub in Solihull, it was established by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and is operated by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
We help to increase the UK’s competitiveness in the telecoms sector by supporting the diversification of its supply chain to increase security, speed of delivery to market and innovation. By testing how different vendors' equipment can work together, UKTL helps operators reduce the risks associated with diversifying their suppliers, helping to make vendor diversification a practical option for operators.
UKTL brings together industry’s best talent, to develop and strengthen secure telecoms networks, playing a pivotal role in protecting the nation’s infrastructure. We will work with industry to ensure that our activities remain relevant as networks and the technology that underpins them evolve. UKTL aims to grow skills in telecoms security and protocol interoperability. Our work will help the UK to lead in open and interoperable networking, building UK expertise and supporting industry to deploy secure equipment across the networks.
