What do Regional Trade Agreements mean for quality infrastructure?

The number of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) entering into force has steadily increased over the past two decades (see figure below). This continuous growth has been interpreted as a reaction to the Multilateral Trading System (MTS) crisis, which has raised concerns about the future of Quality Infrastructure.

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The QI user survey to assess the demand of quality infrastructure

Insights about an economy’s present and future demand for quality assurance services are essential for developing a national quality infrastructure (NQI). Gaining a clear understanding of the needs and demand for QI services in a country complements the analysis of supply-side data, resulting in more sound decisions on QI development programs and their scope. A proper demand assessment is critical to both the capacity building of individual QI Institutions and the identification of effective reforms of the overall NQI in a country. Although the need for demand-driven NQI development is emphasized by funding agencies such as UNIDO and PTB, the demand side is still often neglected.

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The Implications of Artificial Intelligence for the Quality Infrastructure

Artificial intelligence (AI) is on everyone’s lips. A significant stimulus was when the US company OpenAI published the ChatGPT in November 2022.[1] GPT stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer and is a text-based dialogue system as a user interface based on machine learning. Millions of internet users registered to gain access to this new oracle in just a few days.

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First international research workshop on Quality Infrastructure (QI)

The International Cooperation of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and the Chair of Innovation Economics at the Technische Universität Berlin is pleased to invite you to the first research workshop on quality infrastructure. The consulting firm Mesopartner supports the preparation and implementation of the workshop.

Until now, QI has been dealt with mainly by practitioners. There is much grey literature and few peer-reviewed scientific publications.

This hybrid workshop aims to bring researchers and practitioners together to discuss the scientific foundation of quality infrastructure and exchange information on the state of research in the field.

The meeting’s agenda will include a session on the contribution of quality infrastructure to digitalisation and sustainable development.

The event will take place on 27 April 2023 from 14:00-17:00 CET at PTB in Berlin and online. 

If you are a researcher in the field of quality infrastructure, or work in an institution that supports research on quality infrastructure, please register by completing the following questionnaire.