TÜBİTAK UME and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) National Measurement and Calibration Center (NMCC) signed contracts on April 3, 2014 for the establishment of metrology laboratories to operate in the areas of physical, electric-electronic, mechanical, and chemical measurements.
At the signing ceremony, also attenden by Turkey’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Yunus Demirer and the Director of the TÜBİTAK National Electronics and Cryptology Research Institute Dr. Fatih Üstüner, the following contracts were signed:
- For the establishment of 29 laboratories and sub-laboratories in the areas of physical, electrical-electronic, mechanical, and chemical measurements, the 3 year D-3 Project (Development and Consultancy Service Program) contract with a value of 26,670,518.14 USD, signed by Saudi Arabia Trade and Industry Minister and Chairman of SASO Executive Board Dr. Tawfiq F. ALRABIAH and TÜBİTAK UME Director Dr. Mustafa ÇETİNTAŞ.
- For the further development of the Time and Frequency Laboratory established by TÜBİTAK UME at SASO/NMCC, the 2 year D-4 Project (Development & Consultancy Service Program) contract with a value of 1,510,727.81 USD signed by Saudi Arabia Trade and Industry Minister and Chairman of SASO Executive Board Dr. Tawfiq F. ALRABIAH and TÜBİTAK UME Director Dr. Mustafa ÇETİNTAŞ.
- The 3 year J-3 Project (Joint Work and Consultancy) contract for the provision on-site training and consultancy services with a value of 132,500.00 USD, signed by Governer of SASO Dr. Saad O. ALKASABI and TÜBİTAK UME Director Dr. Mustafa ÇETİNTAŞ.
The three projects worth a total of 28,313,745.95 USD aim to significantly expand the scientific metrology infrastructure at SASO and include training of technical staff and establishment of the international traceability of SASO’s measurement standards, which are expected to contribute to the elimination of technical barriers to trade for Saudi Arabian exporters.
The first development project signed in September 2012 between the two institutions was worth 2.4 million USD and was completed within nine months. That project involved the establishment of a Time and Frequency Laboratory at SASO/NMCC, the training of technical staff and assistance for the inclusion of SASO’s time data in the calculation of the reference time scale UTC, thereby establishing international traceability for its time measurements. The increased mutual confidence resulting from the success of this project lead to the signing in 2013 of another development project worth 1.5 million USD involving the establishment of new laboratories and personnel training, which is expected to be completed in July 2014.
