# Federal Institute of Metrology

> government agency

**Wikidata**: [Q1005465](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1005465)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Institute_of_Metrology)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/federal-institute-of-metrology

## Summary
The Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) is the Swiss government agency responsible for metrology, measurement standards, and accreditation. Established in 1862, it operates under the Federal Department of Justice and Police and is headquartered in Wabern bei Bern, Köniz. METAS ensures the accuracy and reliability of measurements in Switzerland, supporting legal, scientific, and commercial applications.

## Key Facts
- Officially founded in 1862, the Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) is a Swiss government agency.
- It is part of the Federal Department of Justice and Police.
- The agency is headquartered in Wabern bei Bern, part of the municipality of Köniz, in the canton of Bern, Switzerland.
- Its primary field of work is metrology — the science of measurement and its application.
- METAS has undergone several name changes, with its current legal name in effect since 2013.
- Coordinates: Latitude 46.92467, Longitude 7.46329.
- Operates under multiple official names in different languages, including "Eidgenössisches Institut für Metrologie" (German), "Office fédéral de métrologie" (French), and "Instituto Federale di Metrologia" (Italian).
- The institute moved to its current headquarters in Wabern in 1965.
- METAS maintains a website at [https://www.metas.ch](https://www.metas.ch), available in multiple languages.
- It is identified by several institutional identifiers including ROR ID 0115xv923, GRID ID grid.434648.9, and ISNI 0000000405274422.
- It is located at Lindenweg 50, 3084 Wabern, Switzerland.

## FAQs

### What is the Federal Institute of Metrology?
The Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) is the Swiss federal agency responsible for metrology and accreditation. It ensures the uniformity, accuracy, and reliability of measurements in Switzerland, which is essential for legal, scientific, and commercial purposes.

### When was the Federal Institute of Metrology established?
It was established in 1862 under the name "Eidgenössische Eichstätte" and has evolved through several name changes, with its current structure solidified in 2013.

### What is the role of METAS in Switzerland?
METAS is responsible for maintaining national measurement standards, ensuring legal metrology, and supporting the Swiss quality infrastructure. It also plays a key role in international metrology through collaboration with global standards bodies.

### Where is the Federal Institute of Metrology located?
It is headquartered in Wabern bei Bern, a district of Köniz in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, since 1965.

### What is the organizational structure of METAS?
METAS is a government agency and part of the Federal Department of Justice and Police. It is also classified as an institute and operates under Swiss public administration.

### What are the official names and languages of METAS?
The institute is known by various official names in German, French, and Italian, including:
- Eidgenössisches Institut für Metrologie
- Office fédéral de métrologie
- Istituto federale di metrologia

### What is the field of work of METAS?
Its primary field of work is metrology, encompassing the science of measurement and its application in legal, scientific, and industrial contexts.

### What is the significance of METAS in the Swiss government?
METAS ensures that all measurements in Switzerland are accurate and standardized, which is critical for trade, science, and regulation. It also plays a role in international metrology and contributes to global standards.

## Why It Matters
The Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) is essential to Switzerland's measurement infrastructure. It ensures that all measurements in the country are accurate, reliable, and traceable to international standards. This is crucial for legal, scientific, and commercial activities. METAS also supports Switzerland's participation in global metrology frameworks, ensuring Swiss industries meet international quality and compliance standards. Its work underpins trust in Swiss products and services, particularly in sectors like pharmaceuticals, precision engineering, and finance.

## Notable For
- Being the official Swiss metrology institute since 1862
- Hosting the national standards for measurement in Switzerland
- Operating under the Federal Department of Justice and Police
- Maintaining traceability to the International System of Units (SI)
- Playing a key role in legal metrology in Switzerland
- Supporting multilingual official designations (German, French, Italian, and English)
- Hosting a wide range of aliases and historical names
- Being a key node in the European metrology network

## Body

### History and Evolution
The Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) was originally founded in 1862 as the "Eidgenössische Eichstätte", the federal weighing office. Over time, it evolved through several institutional and name changes:
- 1862–1909: Eidgenössische Eichstätte
- 1909–1977: Eidgenössisches Amt für Mass und Gewicht
- 1977–1999: Eidgenössisches Amt für Messwesen
- 1999–2001: Bundesamt für Metrologie
- 2001–2004: Bundesamt für Metrologie und Akkreditierung / Office fédéral de métrologie et d'accréditation
- 2005–2012: Bundesamt für Metrologie / Office fédéral de métrologie
- 2013–present: Federal Institute of Metrology / Eidgenössisches Institut für Metrologie / Institut fédéral de métrologie / Istituto federale di metrologia

The current name and structure were formalized in 2013, although the institute has maintained its core mission of ensuring measurement accuracy and legal compliance in Switzerland.

### Organizational Structure and Governance
METAS is a government agency and part of the Swiss Federal Administration. It is currently under the Federal Department of Justice and Police, which has governed it since its inception. The institute is located in Wabern bei Bern, a district of Köniz in the canton of Bern, where it moved its headquarters in 1965.

### Location and Facilities
The institute is located at:
- **Street Address**: Lindenweg 50, 3084 Wabern
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 46.92467, Longitude 7.46329

It is a key facility for national measurement standards and calibration services, and its location supports its role in legal metrology and international collaboration.

### Institutional Identity and Recognition
METAS is recognized by several international identifiers:
- **ISNI**: 0000000405274422
- **ROR ID**: 0115xv923
- **GRID ID**: grid.434648.9
- **Ringgold ID**: 34320
- **Swiss Enterprise Identification Number**: CHE-475.427.549

These identifiers are used in academic and institutional databases to track its activities and publications.

### Official Names and Languages
The institute is known by several official names:
- **German**: Eidgenössisches Institut für Metrologie, Bundesamt für Metrologie, Bundesamt für Metrologie und Akkreditierung
- **French**: Office fédéral de métrologie, Office fédéral de métrologie et d'accréditation, Institut fédéral de métrologie
- **Italian**: Istituto Federale di Metrologia
- **English**: Federal Institute of Metrology, Federal Office of Metrology

### Field of Work and Mission
METAS's primary field of work is metrology — the science of measurement. It ensures that all measurements in Switzerland are traceable to international standards and supports legal metrology, calibration services, and quality infrastructure.

### International and National Role
METAS is a key node in the global metrology network and collaborates with international organizations such as the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML). It also plays a role in the European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA) and supports Swiss industries in maintaining global competitiveness.

### Governance and Oversight
The institute is part of the Federal Department of Justice and Police, which oversees its operations. It is responsible for maintaining national standards and ensuring legal compliance in measurement practices.

### Digital Presence and Accessibility
METAS maintains a website at [https://www.metas.ch](https://www.metas.ch), which is available in multiple languages. The site provides access to publications, calibration services, and legal metrology resources.

### Historical and Legal Context
The institute's history is tied to the evolution of Swiss federal administration and legal metrology. It has played a key role in ensuring the accuracy of measurements in Switzerland and has supported the country's transition to modern metrology practices.

### Research and Development
METAS is involved in research and development in metrology and collaborates with academic and industrial partners to ensure that Swiss measurement practices are aligned with international standards.

### Public Services and Outreach
The institute provides calibration services, measurement standards, and legal metrology support to Swiss industries and institutions. It also plays a role in public outreach and education in metrology.

### Legacy and Impact
METAS has played a key role in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of measurements in Switzerland. It supports legal metrology, calibration services, and international collaboration in measurement science. Its work underpins trust in Swiss products and services, particularly in sectors like pharmaceuticals, precision engineering, and finance.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. GRID Release 2015-12-14
5. GRID Release 2016-12-06