The European Virtual Institute for Thermal Metrology evitherm Presented by John REDGROVE

1. The European Virtual Institute for Thermal Metrology www.evitherm.org Presented by John REDGROVE Thermal Measurement Group National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK

2. 3-year EC-funded project to set up a Virtual Institute … • Mission - to provide QUICK and EASY access for European industrial, research and academic organisations to authoritative temperature and thermophysical properties information and expertise … in order to increase the skill levels of their technical staff and help improve their products and processes • Self-financing legal entity within 3 years

3. Why is evitherm required ? • Fragmented, geographically scattered and variable quality of information and expertise - difficult to locate and access most appropriate information/expertise. How to choose? • Lack of understanding of thermal technology by users - inappropriate thermal data or measurement techniques producing inefficient, less competitive or more environmentally polluting industrial processes

4. Authoritative thermal knowledge transfer focal point … • Comprehensive website facilitating connections between providers and users of thermal technology, to help resolve thermal issues & improve skills • An authoritative source of thermal technology information and expertise structured for ease of access by industrial users • European regional and industry sector needs(language) addressed to increase industry usage

5. Steering Group – to meet user needs • Crucially, the Steering Group has industry representatives to help ensure that user needs are understood and met Project kick-off meeting at NPL, Teddington, January 2003

6. The Steering Group has industry representatives … • Industry and particularly SMEs will be the key users • Web infrastructure and content designed to satisfy users’ technology and information needs • Information provided in a format and at technical levels required by industry

7. evitherm projectteam comprises about 40 organisations from 12 European nations - metrology institutes, industrial research organisations, manufacturers, test labs, universities, consultants … • Developing content for thermal properties & temperature users

8. Website providing information and links on… • Member capabilities • Events, capabilities of European research organisations, equipment suppliers, trade organisations • Science & technology developments • Thermophysical properties databases • Good practice guides, training, standards

9. Technical data searchable by a range of categories • Industry sector (metals, building, medical etc) • Thermal parameter • Material • Resource (equipment, technique, expertise) • Supplier

10. Enabling members to interact with each other, facilitating … • Meetings, conferences, workshops and training events • Problem-solving • Consultancy • Partnerships for collaborative research, exploitation of research outputs & other projects

11. Membership structure based on company size • Proposal – to be reviewed by Steering Group • Annual membership fee about € 100 for individuals • Corporate membership fee around € 500 for SMEs (50 < staff < 249) up to € 1000 for organisations with staff > 250

12. National activities complement evitherm technical resource • National societies and interest groups are the ‘real’ as opposed to ‘virtual’ interface with industry, facilitating meetings, conferences, workshops and training events • evitherm will help to increase awareness and visibility of national activities for the benefit of industry

13. www.evitherm.org The European Virtual Institute for Thermal Metrology Visit the website and give us your views on how evitherm should be developed to help your business