Powered by Metrology: Ensuring Trust, Innovation & Technological Sovereignty
Impact and Future of European Measurement Research
Thursday, 7 May 2026 | 14:00 – 18:30 CEST
On‑site event | Brussels, Belgium
Metrology, the science of measurement, underpins every aspect of a resilient, innovative and technologically sovereign Europe. From advanced manufacturing to digital transformation, from reliable medical diagnosis and treatment to climate action, trustworthy measurements underpin scientific excellence, industrial competitiveness and effective policymaking.
As the European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR) concludes, this high‑level event brings together policy-makers, scientific leaders and industry stakeholders to reflect on a decade of achievements, and to explore the future of European measurement research.
The EMPIR initiative is co-funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the EMPIR Participating States.
The event will take place at the Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia to the European Union, Rue Montoyer 47, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.
About the event
The event will showcase EMPIR’s scientific and economic impact, deliver success stories from across its project portfolio, and explore how Europe can build on this legacy to ensure technological sovereignty in an increasingly complex global landscape.
Participants can expect:
- Strategic insights from policymakers and EU institutions
- Success stories from the programme’s projects delivering world‑class measurement solutions, supporting standardisation, and enabling technological breakthroughs across sectors
- Forward-looking discussions on the role of metrology in future EU research frameworks
- A ‘Technology Gallery’ that showcases project results and provides perspectives from EURAMET’s European Metrology Networks
Speakers
Maria Cristina Russo, Deputy Director-General for Innovation, Prosperity and International Cooperation in the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG R&I), European Commission
Christophe Salomon, Member of the French Academy of Sciences and Research Director Emeritus at Laboratoire Kastler Brossel
Dietrich Imkamp, Head of Technology & Modules, BU Multisensoric CMM at ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions, Germany
Doris Schröcker, Head of Unit for Industrial Research, Strategy and Coordination in the Directorate for Prosperity in the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG R&I), European Commission
Till Spannagel, Head of the Department for Economic Affairs, Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic of Germany to the European Union in Brussels
Pietro Asinari, President at INRiM, National Institute of Metrological Research, Italy
Johann Foucher, Founder & CEO at Pollen, France
Thorsten Gerloff, Co-Founder of Luminous Intensity, Germany
Dolores del Campo Maldonado, EURAMET Chairperson and Director Centro Español de Metrología, the National Metrology Institute of Spain
Maguelonne Chambon, EURAMET Vice-Chairperson (Research) and Director Research at LNE, France
Annette Röttger, EURAMET Vice-Chairperson (GA) and Member of the Presidential Board at PTB, Germany
The welcome address will be given by Rainer Steffens, Director of the Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia to the European Union.
This event is moderated by Marieke Eyskoot, event host and presenter, keynote speaker and sustainability expert from the Netherlands.
Information on further speakers will be published shortly.
Agenda
| 14:00 – Registration, coffee and Technology Gallery opening |
| 15:00 – Welcome |
| 15:10 – Policy, science, and industry: vision and foundation for a sovereign Europe – Keynotes |
| 16:00 – Trusted measurements, trusted Europe: How to win a tech race? – Panel discussion |
| 16:35 – Real‑world impact: EMPIR supporting economy, science, and society |
| 16:45 – Innovation unlocked: EMPIR success stories |
| 17:05 – Vision for the next decade: A European Metrology Research Agenda |
| 17:15 – Moving forward: Priorities for European action – Political take-aways |
| 17:30 – Networking reception and Technology Gallery |
Who should attend?
This event is designed for stakeholders shaping Europe’s scientific, innovation, industrial and regulatory agenda, including:
- Policy-makers
- Members of the European Parliament
- Representatives of the European Commission
- EU Council representatives working on science, technology and industry
- National ministries and government agencies
- Industry partners, SMEs and start-ups
- European Quality Infrastructure Organisations and metrology institutes
Why attend?
- Celebrate ten years of scientific and economic impact through EMPIR
- Connect with leading experts shaping Europe’s future metrology landscape
- Engage in discussions on technological sovereignty and innovation‑driven growth
- Leverage EMPIR’s excellent scientific results to accelerate innovation realisation jointly across the EU and Member States
- Gain insights into how metrology supports EU policies and initiatives, from competitiveness to decarbonisation
About EMPIR
With projects running from 2014 to 2024, EMPIR has been the European funding programme for measurement science, bringing together expertise from metrology institutes, academia, and industry across Europe.
Over the last decade, EMPIR has delivered:
- 241 projects, including Joint Research Projects and other project types
- Major advances in metrology for industry, health, standardisation, environment, energy and fundamental metrology
- Measurement solutions supporting key EU policy priorities, including clean energy transition, digitalisation, medical diagnostics, advanced manufacturing and climate action
- Stronger alignment between metrology research and standardisation
- New European Metrology Networks enabling sustained collaboration in strategic areas
The programme’s outcomes have strengthened European competitiveness, supported regulation, and enabled innovation across all sectors that rely on precise, traceable and internationally recognised measurements.
