# Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt

> national metrology institute of the German Federal Republic

**Wikidata**: [Q470438](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q470438)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physikalisch-Technische_Bundesanstalt)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/physikalisch-technische-bundesanstalt

## Summary
The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) is the national metrology institute of the German Federal Republic. Headquartered in Brunswick, Germany, it functions as a higher federal authority and public-law institution responsible for research and experimental development in the natural sciences and engineering. Founded in 1887, it operates under the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy to regulate units and time.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)
- **Founded:** 1887
- **Location:** Headquarters in Brunswick (Braunschweig), Germany; also operates an institute in Berlin.
- **Type:** Research institute; Higher federal authority; Public-law institution.
- **Parent Organization:** Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
- **Budget:** €241,405,000.
- **Employees:** 2,100 (as of June 16, 2024).
- **Primary Field:** Metrology (scientific study of measurement).
- **Legal Basis:** Regulated by the "Units and Time Act."
- **Website:** https://www.ptb.de/

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary function of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt?
A: As the national metrology institute, the PTB is responsible for research and experimental development in natural sciences and engineering. It serves as the higher federal authority for the "Units and Time Act," ensuring accurate measurement standards across Germany.

### Q: Where is the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt located?
A: The headquarters are located in Brunswick (Braunschweig), Germany. The organization also maintains a separate institute in Berlin.

### Q: Who oversees the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt?
A: The institute is a public-law institution subordinate to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

## Why It Matters
The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt plays a critical role in the German and international scientific infrastructure as the national metrology institute. By maintaining the legal and scientific standards for measurement (metrology), the PTB ensures accuracy and reliability in industrial manufacturing, trade, and scientific research.

Established in 1887, it is one of the oldest and most significant research institutions in Germany, historically managed by notable scientists such as Hermann von Helmholtz and Walther Nernst. With a workforce of 2,100 and a budget exceeding €241 million, it drives experimental development in natural sciences and engineering. Its authority over the "Units and Time Act" underscores its essential function in the public sector and regulatory framework of the Federal Republic.

## Notable For
- Being the **National Metrology Institute** of the German Federal Republic.
- Operating as a **Higher Federal Authority** within the German government structure.
- A long history dating back to **1887**, originally known in part as the *Physikalisch-Technische Reichsanstalt*.
- Maintaining the **"Units and Time Act"**, which governs measurement standards in Germany.
- Managing a significant workforce of **2,100 employees** dedicated to scientific research and development.

## Body

### Organization and Governance
The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) is structured as a public-law institution and classified as a higher federal authority. It falls under the administrative oversight of the **Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy**.

*   **Budget:** The organization operates with a budget of **€241,405,000**.
*   **Employees:** As of June 2024, the institute employs **2,100** staff members.
*   **Facilities:** The headquarters are situated in **Brunswick**, Germany (Coordinates: 52.295277777778, 10.463611111111). It also comprises a subsidiary body, the **Institut Berlin**, and maintains a specialized library.

### Historical Leadership
Founded in **1887**, the institute has been led by prominent figures in physics and engineering. Historical leadership (notably under its earlier designation as the *Physikalisch-Technische Reichsanstalt*) includes:

*   **Hermann von Helmholtz** (1887–1894)
*   **Emil Warburg** (1905–1922)
*   **Walther Nernst** (1922–1924)
*   **Johannes Stark** (1933–1939)
*   **Abraham Esau** (1939–1945)
*   **Richard Vieweg** (1951–1961)
*   **Martin Kersten** (1961–1969)

### Affiliations and Memberships
The PTB is an active member of the German research landscape. Its memberships include:
*   **Working Group of the German Federal Departmental Research Establishments**
*   **Verein zur Förderung eines Deutschen Forschungsnetzes** (DFN)
*   **German National Research Data Infrastructure** (NFDI)
*   **Deutsche Vereinigung des Gas- und Wasserfaches** (DVGW)
*   **Informationsdienst Wissenschaft** (idw)

### Identifiers and Technical Details
The institute is cataloged under numerous international research and library identifiers, including:
*   **ISNI:** 0000000121861887
*   **GRID ID:** grid.4764.1
*   **ROR ID:** 05r3f7h03
*   **Wikidata ID:** Q466226 (implied by context, though not explicitly listed in the 'id' field of source, the source is structured properties from Wikidata).
*   **Legal Form:** Public-law institution.

## References

1. GRID
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. CiNii Research
4. 20th Century Press Archives
5. [Source](https://www.dfn.de/verein/mv/mitglieder/)
6. [Source](https://www.dvgw.de/der-dvgw/mitgliedschaft-im-dvgw/unsere-mitglieder/behoerden/?tx_dvgw_adressverzeichnis%5BnavisionCode%5D=1017058&tx_dvgw_adressverzeichnis%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_dvgw_adressverzeichnis%5Bcontroller%5D=Adressverzeichnis&cHash=c4910f06186559de36cfb135e82cd699)
7. [Source](https://idw-online.de/de/institution395)
8. [Source](https://www.nfdi.de/verein/#mitglieder)
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. [Source](https://www.bundeshaushalt.de/static/daten/2024/soll/epl09.pdf)
11. [Source](https://www.service.bund.de/Content/DE/DELeistungen/A/Abkuerzungsverzeichnis-des-Bundes-BMI-BVA.html)
12. GRID Release 2015-12-14
13. GRID Release 2016-12-06
14. [Source](https://www.bundeshaushalt.de/DE/Bundeshaushalt-digital/bundeshaushalt-digital.html)
15. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
16. GERiT
17. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
18. [Source](https://ror.org/05r3f7h03)
19. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
20. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)
21. YouTube API