The function of the National Physics Laboratory is to provide measurement
capabilities for industry and science and to develop a high level of measurement
and calibration capability in Israel.

Countries maintain physics laboratories for the use of their local industry. Their
purpose is to provide physical and chemical units of measurement as determined by
international agreements in order to facilitate the production and export of advanced
technological products.

According to the Meter Agreement, to which Israel is a signatory, all countries must
utilize the same units of measurement. The basic units of measurement in the SI
system (the international system from which all other units are derived) are as
follows: length - meter, mass - kilogram, time - second, electric current - ampere,
temperature - Calvin, radiation - candle, quantity - mole and angle - radian. All other
units are derived from these.

The laboratory maintains the units of measurement used in Israel, some of which are
defined by law and others by international agreements and agreements of mutual
recognition. These units of measurement must be identical to those used abroad.

According to international standards and requirements, it must be demonstrated that
sophisticated equipment for either export or the local market has been tested or
calibrated by the national laboratory with minimum uncertainty. The National Physics
Laboratory provides this certification and also provides testing and calibration
services to industry which, in order to maintain consistency, are compared to the
national system of units of measurement.