International Metrology Digest — Issue 8

Lead story

International decisions and developments · October 2026

28th General Conference · Versailles · 13–15 October

Seven resolutions set priorities for the global measurement system

The General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) adopted seven resolutions. They address the BIPM’s 2028–2031 funding, universal adherence to the Metre Convention, digital transformation, the future definition of the second, continuity of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), a lunar reference time scale traceable to UTC, and updated rules of procedure.

Two of the resolutions look especially far ahead: one asks the CIPM to work toward a proposal for a new definition of the second for the 29th CGPM in 2030; another recommends international cooperation on lunar timekeeping and its relationship to UTC. Neither resolution announces that the second has already been redefined or that a final lunar time standard is now in force.

Read the official CGPM resolutions

Issue announcement · Open access

International Metrology Digest — Issue #8 · October 2026 is out

A curated monthly overview of international metrology events, meetings, and updates from BIPM, EURAMET, OIML, WELMEC, and beyond.

In this issue

The 28th CGPM met in Versailles on 13–15 October and adopted seven resolutions on the future definition of the second, UTC continuity, digital transformation, and lunar reference time. Read the CGPM resolutions
Nigeria signed the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement, strengthening its participation in international measurement comparisons. BIPM announcement
Delegates elected 18 members to the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM). Election results
OIML’s 61st CIML meeting took place in New Delhi on 26–28 October, with digitalisation, harmonisation and international cooperation among its discussion themes. OIML meeting page
WELMEC’s Working Group 6 met in Paris on 14–15 October, and its Working Group 14 on Digital Transformation met online on 20 October. WELMEC October event archive
EURAMET’s October highlights included metrology for EV charging, cancer genomics, radiation protection, nanoscale measurement and environmental sensor networks. EURAMET news
NIST reported radio-frequency fingerprinting research that distinguished 16 tested devices with more than 95% accuracy, while noting that uncertainty and traceability work remained ongoing. NIST research feature

Spotlight · Metrology beyond Earth

The CGPM encouraged work toward a proposal for a future definition of the second for its 2030 meeting and recommended continued international cooperation on a lunar reference time scale traceable to UTC.

No new definition of the second or final lunar time standard was adopted in October; the resolutions set out the next steps for research and coordination.

Read the full digest · digestmetrology8.netlify.app

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October briefings

What changed, and why metrologists should care

Time & frequency · CGPM Resolution 4

The next second is still a work in progress

The CGPM asked the CIPM to keep advancing the roadmap and develop a proposal for a future definition of the second for consideration in 2030. Work remains on consensus, comparison of optical frequency standards and the criteria needed before a change can be adopted.

Read Resolution 4

Space metrology · CGPM Resolution 6

Lunar time needs a traceable link to Earth time

The resolution points to the need for an internationally coordinated lunar reference time scale as lunar navigation and infrastructure develop. It encourages space agencies to share operational experience and recommends collaboration among the BIPM, national metrology institutes and international organisations, including clear treatment of relativistic effects and uncertainty.

Read Resolution 6

International recognition · 13 October

Nigeria signed the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement

Nigeria’s National Metrology Institute, within the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, signed the CIPM MRA during the CGPM meeting. Signatory participation enables involvement in international comparisons, development of Calibration and Measurement Capabilities, and publication of those capabilities in the BIPM’s Key Comparison Database.

Read BIPM’s announcement

Global governance · 15–16 October

New CIPM elected at the Versailles conference

Delegates elected 18 members to the International Committee for Weights and Measures. The committee then met at BIPM headquarters on 16 October to elect an interim President and Secretary. The elected membership spans national metrology institutions across regions including Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas and Oceania.

See the elected members

Legal metrology · New Delhi · 26–28 October

OIML’s 61st CIML meeting took place in India

New Delhi hosted the International Committee of Legal Metrology’s 61st meeting. The published programme and reporting highlighted digitalisation, harmonised technical recommendations, mutual acceptance of test results, certification, capacity building and international cooperation. These are discussion priorities, not a claim that a new OIML rule was adopted at the meeting.

View the official OIML meeting page

Measurement research · NIST · 21 October

RF fingerprints offer a metrology route to device tamper checks

NIST described a laboratory method for measuring radio-frequency emissions from mobile devices and identifying device differences. In tests involving 16 devices, its algorithm reported more than 95% accuracy. The researchers emphasised that uncertainty analysis, traceability and measurement best practices still need further development.

Read the NIST research feature

EURAMET · Europe’s October in focus

Research outputs, technical exchange and training

Radiation metrology · Berlin · 5–9 October

Radiation Protection Week focused on dosimeter assurance

At ERPW 2026, EURAMET’s Radiation Protection network held a session on compliance, testing and the dosimeter lifecycle. Topics included software-related legal compliance, type testing and the standards and uncertainty work needed to move dosimeters from development into routine use.

Event details from EURAMET

Nanometrology · NPL · 20–22 October

NanoScale 2026 brought quantitative microscopy together with calibration

The 14th Seminar on Quantitative Microscopy and 10th Seminar on Nanoscale Calibration, Standards and Methods met at the UK’s National Physical Laboratory. The programme focused on dimensional and related measurements at micro- and nanometre scales, with support from EURAMET TC-L and BIPM CCL working groups.

Event details from EURAMET

Environmental measurement · METAS · 19–23 October

Autumn School addressed trustworthy sensor networks

Hosted by METAS in Bern, the five-day school covered sensor selection, calibration, drift assessment, field deployment, data quality and uncertainty evaluation. The training addressed the metrological challenges created by increasingly complex environmental sensor networks.

School details from EURAMET

Energy measurement · EURAMET news · 20 October

EURAMET reported progress on traceable EV-charging test methods

The Metrology Partnership’s Met4EVCS project reported progress on methods and test benches for assessing AC and DC charging systems under representative conditions. Measurement campaigns in Italy, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands are helping laboratory tests reflect real charging and grid conditions.

Read the EURAMET project update

Health metrology · EURAMET news · 13 October

EURAMET reported GenomeMET’s progress in cancer genomics

EURAMET’s update described reference measurement procedures and materials, external quality-assessment schemes and contributions to documentary standards for next-generation sequencing. The work aims to strengthen the comparability and reliability of genomic profiling used in precision medicine.

Read the EURAMET project update

Climate metrology · October announcement · COP31 in November

October’s announcement previewed two November COP31 sessions

On 21 October, the Climate and Ocean Observation network announced sessions scheduled for 16 and 17 November in Antalya, including a joint session with OIML. Those sessions are upcoming November events, not October events.

Read the EURAMET announcement

Other entries in EURAMET’s October event archive include the TC-Length annual meeting (5–6 October), the RADWAG mass-metrology symposium (6–8 October), the TC-Electricity and Magnetism annual meeting (21–22 October), and the EMN Smart North annual meeting (27–28 October). The archive contains further activities; this is a curated selection, not a complete calendar.

Primary sources & further reading

Editorial note: event dates and institutional decisions are linked to originating organisations wherever possible. This is a curated international selection, not a claim to include every metrology event in October. The NIST item is a research development rather than a conference announcement.