The reason for the increasing importance of metrology is the turbulence associated with globalization and global trade. For an economy to prosper in the global market place, it must improve the international competitiveness of its manufacturing industry. This requires more than simply the production of better products at lower prices; the potential customer also needs to be convinced of the quality and compliance of the product, which must be proven by reliable test reports and conformity assessments.

To achieve all this, a continuous upgrading of technology and expertise is needed. Typically the accuracy required of national measurement standards doubles every ten years. This demand for increasing precision and uniformity applies not only to national standards but also to the implementation of Quality Systems based on international standards. For example, the ISO/IEC 17025 quality standards require that all measuring instruments used for production or service are calibrated; where calibration means the comparison of the instrument's measurements with standards or reference materials of known value.

Where are the important areas for metrology for the future? Certainly, there will continue to be a range of challenges from the traditional areas of physics and engineering. However, the greatest and most pressing demand currently is from chemistry and chemistry-based sciences. Here there is an urgent need for precise, traceable measurements. Our long-term aim is to bring these domains into the framework of the CIPM MRA or a similar arrangement, in order to continue our mission of seeking worldwide uniformity in measurement.

The international work of the BIPM demonstrates that the Metre Convention is still a living instrument, responsive to the current needs of globalization. This is a testament to the sagacity of those who met in Paris in May 1875. The adventure of metrology is an enterprise which has been propelling the evolution of the modern world and which continues to excite the imagination and to assist society.