The global ‘Grand Challenges’ of today’s society – from climate change to economic recession – can be met by science and technology, as is well-known to most readers. Perhaps less well-known is a part of society’s technological infrastructure, not as visible as the universities or industries, but omnipresent and with a long tradition reaching as far back as the Old Testament – namely quality assured measurement or ‘metrology’. ‘You are to use accurate scales’ [Ezekiel 45:10] is just as relevant, and metrology is indeed flourishing in response to today’s challenges. Europe has realised this and is currently investing in a major new €400m metrology research programme (EMRP)1, engaging over 20 countries as one of the most integrated collaborations in the flagship European Research Area (ERA).