METAS in brief

The key facts about METAS at a glance.

Brief portrait

The Federal Institute of Metrology METAS in Wabern bei Bern serves as the federal government’s centre of competence for all issues related to measurement, for measuring equipment and for measurement procedures. It is a public-law institution of the Swiss Confederation and the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP).

As Switzerland’s national metrology institute (NMI), it is tasked with ensuring that measurements can be made in Switzerland with the accuracy required for the interests of business, research and administration.

To this end, we create and propagate traceable units of measurement; engage in international cooperation, research and development; offer consultancy services in the field of metrology and carry out the tasks assigned to us by the federal government.

The role of METAS in everyday life

We enable trust in everyday life.

We encounter measurements every day: in road traffic, when recording electricity consumption, in medical diagnostics, in environmental measurements or in industrial manufacturing. The reliability of such measurements forms the basis for safety, innovation and fairness.

With our work, we ensure that measurements in Switzerland are correct, reliable and internationally recognised, thereby strengthening trust in products, services and decisions.

Organisations

METAS has 15 metrological laboratories and works in 3 sectors of applied metrology.

Physics laboratories

4 laboratories in the Electricity sector

• DC and low frequency
• Electrical energy and power
• High frequency
• Electromagnetic compatibility

3 laboratories in the Length, Optics and Time sector

• Length, nano- and microtechnology
• Optics
• Photonics, time and frequency

3 laboratories in the Mechanical Quantities and Ionising Radiation sector

• Mass, force, pressure and vibration
• Flow rate
• Ionising radiation

Chemistry and biology laboratories

5 laboratories in the Chemical and Biological Metrology sector

• Gas analysis
• Particles and aerosols
• Inorganic analysis and references
• Organic analysis and references
• Biological analysis and references

Applied metrological sectors

Verification and Testing sector

• Road traffic
• Acoustics
• Audiometry

Chemical Testing and Consulting sector

• Analytical
• Inspection and advice

Measurement Networks sector

• Quality and maintenance
• Intervention and installation
• Software

METAS in figures

Last updated: 31 December 2025

Staff

• 258 employees (76% male and 24% female)
• 9 apprentices and federal vocational baccalaureate interns
• 4 university interns
• 5 PhD students

Languages spoken

• 78% German
• 20% French
• 2% Italian

Calibration and measurement capabilities (CMCs)

METAS has 439 calibration and measurement capabilities recognised by the CIPM-MRA.