The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) signed the Joint Statement of Intent On the digital transformation in the international scientific and quality infrastructure on 24 and 31 May 2022, respectively. The joint statement had previously been signed by the BIPM, the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML), the International Measurement Confederation (IMEKO), the International Science Council (ISC) and its Committee on Data (CODATA), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

The joint statement provides a platform for the signatory organizations to come together to indicate their support, in a way appropriate to their particular organization, to the development, implementation, and promotion of the SI Digital Framework as part of a wider digital transformation of the international scientific and quality infrastructure. The addition of IEC and ILAC further strengthens the collaboration and global reach of the initiative.

Philippe Metzger, IEC Secretary-General & CEO, highlighted that “the IEC welcomes this initiative. The digital representation of quantities and units of measurement is a crucial step in progressing towards digitalization, ensuring data quality and the unambiguous use and exchange of data.”

Etty Feller, ILAC Chair, commented that “ILAC and BIPM have been working together for decades as part of the quality infrastructure community to enhance and strengthen international recognition and trust in accurate and traceable measurements that underpin science including in the medical, commerce, monitoring of the environment and the provision of safe food and water sectors. ILAC is working with our quality infrastructure colleagues and in particular BIPM, to ensure the effective delivery and implementation of the SI Digital Framework via the accreditation processes.”

Signing of the Joint Statement of Intent
by Philippe Metzger, IEC Secretary-General & CEO, and Etty Feller, ILAC Chair

The joint statement is part of an ongoing initiative by the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) and its Task Group on the Digital SI (CIPM-TG-DSI) to develop and establish a world-wide uniform and secure data exchange format based on the International System of Units (SI).