Bipm
BIPM is the intergovernmental organization established by the Metre Convention in 1875 that maintains the International System of Units (SI) and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), serving 64 Member States' National Metrology Institutes through measurement standards, calibration coordination, and the CIPM MRA framework.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1875
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Bipm does
BIPM (Bureau International des Poids et Mesures) is an intergovernmental organization established by the Metre Convention in 1875, headquartered at the Pavillon de Breteuil in Sèvres, France. It serves as the global authority for the International System of Units (SI) and the international reference time scale (UTC), coordinating measurement comparability across 64 Member States plus an expanding cohort of Associate States and Economies. BIPM works through National Metrology Institutes (NMIs), six Regional Metrology Organizations (AFRIMETS, APMP, COOMET, EURAMET, GULFMET, SIM), and a network of consultative and joint committees that include JCGM, JCTLM, and JCRB. Its core deliverables include the SI Brochure and SI defining constants, the KCDB (Key Comparison Database), JCTLM database, and Time Department Database, the Metrologia peer-reviewed journal, the GUM and VIM reference guides, and the SI Digital Framework anchored by the SI Reference Point released in Version 1.0.0 in June 2026.
The underlying technology centers on the maintenance of international reference standards, calibration services, and the coordination of global measurement comparability through the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA). Notable technical infrastructure includes the international reference time scales (UTC and rapid UTC), practical realizations of SI base units, and digital initiatives that provide versioned, machine-readable representations of measurement units. BIPM also operates technical departments covering acoustics, ultrasound and vibration; electricity and magnetism; length; mass; and time and frequency metrology, staffed by specialized scientists.
BIPM's business model is non-commercial: it is funded by mandatory contributions from its 64 Member States, governed through the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) and the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM). It does not generate commercial revenue, does not have shareholders, and does not operate a traditional pricing model. Its customers are effectively its Member States and participating NMIs, served through institutional coordination rather than transactional sales. The organization additionally runs capacity-building programs (CBKT) and an e-Learning platform to extend metrology expertise to developing economies, and pursues regulatory positioning through the redefinition of the second and digital transformation of measurement standards.
Bipm firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bipm
- Legal name
- Bureau International des Poids et Mesures
- Website
- https://www1.bipm.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1875
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- BIPM is the intergovernmental organization established by the Metre Convention in 1875 that maintains the International System of Units (SI) and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), serving 64 Member States' National Metrology Institutes through measurement standards, calibration coordination, and the CIPM MRA framework.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bipm industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Metrology Standards & Coordination Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accreditation & Metrology Cooperation (Calibration, Measurement Standards) (BPADANAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Standards, Metrology & Accreditation Bodies (BPAIAOAC)
Keywords
Where Bipm is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bipm business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Bipm product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BIPM maintains and disseminates the International System of Units (SI) and the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) reference time scale, enabling globally traceable measurements across scientific, industrial, and regulatory domains. It coordinates the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA) among National Metrology Institutes, operates reference databases (KCDB, JCTLM, Time Department Database), publishes authoritative metrology guides, and runs capacity-building programs. The organization is funded by Member State contributions rather than commercial revenue.
Product overview
BIPM (Bureau International des Poids et Mesures) is an intergovernmental organization, not a commercial technology company. It provides international measurement standards and metrology services. The core offerings include the International System of Units (SI) and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Supporting infrastructure includes databases (KCDB, JCTLM, Time Department Database), publications (Metrologia journal, SI Brochure, GUM, VIM), and educational resources (e-Learning Platform, CBKT). Recent digital transformation efforts include the SI Digital Framework with the SI Reference Point. BIPM serves Member States through their National Metrology Institutes and Regional Metrology Organizations, not through commercial product sales.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Bipm
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bipm technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Bipm partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Armenia (Republic of Armenia)minorArmenia became an Associate State of BIPM on 17 June 2026, strengthening its participation in the international measurement system through the CIPM MRA framework.
- AFRIMETScoreAfrican Metrology Organization - Regional metrology organization for Africa, participating in the CIPM MRA and coordinating metrology activities across African member states.
- APMPcoreAsia Pacific Metrology Organization - Regional metrology organization for the Asia-Pacific region, participating in CIPM MRA and facilitating measurement traceability in the region.
- COOMETcoreCooperation in Metrology - Regional metrology organization covering Eastern European and Central Asian countries, participating in the CIPM MRA framework.
- EURAMETcoreEuropean Association of National Metrology Institutes - Regional metrology organization for Europe, a key partner in CIPM MRA and SI implementation in Europe.
- GULFMETcoreGulf Metrology Organization - Regional metrology organization for Gulf Cooperation Council countries, participating in CIPM MRA and capacity building activities.
- SIMcoreSistema Interamericano de Metrologia - Regional metrology organization for the Americas, participating in CIPM MRA and coordinating inter-American metrology cooperation.
- JCTLMcoreJoint Committee for Traceability in Laboratory Medicine - Joint committee focused on international traceability standards for laboratory medicine measurements, co-hosted by BIPM, ILAC, and IFCC.
- JCGMcoreJoint Committee for Guides in Metrology - Produces the GUM (Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement) and VIM (International Vocabulary of Metrology), fundamental reference documents for metrology worldwide.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bipm competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bipm social profiles
Digital presenceBipm financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bipm leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Bipm funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bipm M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bipm
What does Bipm do?
BIPM maintains and disseminates the International System of Units (SI) and the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) reference time scale, enabling globally traceable measurements across scientific, industrial, and regulatory domains. It coordinates the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA) among National Metrology Institutes, operates reference databases (KCDB, JCTLM, Time Department Database), publishes authoritative metrology guides, and runs capacity-building programs. The organization is funded by Member State contributions rather than commercial revenue.
Is Bipm a public or private company?
Bipm is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Bipm founded?
Bipm was founded in 1875. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Bipm based?
Bipm is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
Does Bipm have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bipm.
What industry is Bipm in?
Bipm's product category is International Metrology Standards & Coordination Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADANAE, Accreditation & Metrology Cooperation (Calibration, Measurement Standards), with a secondary code of BPAIAOAC, Standards, Metrology & Accreditation Bodies.