NMI has a broad range of expertise based on many years of research and development work that is being continued today. This expertise is required to ensure that Australia has a world class measurement system.
NMI’s expertise is the foundation for the extensive services offered to government agencies and the private sector. It is used to solve measurement problems and to transfer technology throughout Australia’s measurement community. Some of the NMI’s work depends on specialised metrology facilities that are unique in Australia and may be relevant to solving problems for clients. In addition to calibration and measurement services, NMI will work with clients to provide solutions to problems in chemical and biological analysis and physical measurement.
Such consultancy arrangements are tailored to meet the needs of clients. They may include training for staff to ensure effective transfer of technology. NMI will also engage in research projects to address client specific measurement issues.
NMI undertakes contract research projects and programs to address client-specific measurement problems, to develop new measurement techniques and to improve the quality of measurement.
NMI has extensive experience in the development and validation of analytical methods. This expertise has been used to validate methods for detection of drugs in human urine and plasma for the pharmaceutical industry and to validate a method for detection of animal-derived DNA in stockfeed using real-time PCR with funding assistance from Meat and Livestock Australia. We also independently assess commercially available test kits for detecting genetically modified organisms on behalf of government and industry clients.
NMI is currently engaged in several contracts for Australian and international clients to produce and certify specific reference materials, both of the pure-substance type and for analytes in a specific matrix. The mix of synthetic and analytical expertise encompassed in NMI provides a unique capability for this area.
NMI is working with the International Bureau of Weights and Measures to build two calculable capacitors to be maintained in Paris and NMI. The calculable capacitor is the fundamental standard for the unit of electrical resistance, the ohm. These instruments will provide a secure foundation for realising the ohm over the next three decades and more.
NMI is a recipient of a number of research grants. Collaborative research projects with industry researchers and research organisations are encouraged and NMI is an industry partner in a number of Australian Research Council linkage grants.