26 May 2025
RISE celebrated 150 years of the Metre Convention and Sweden’s national kilogram was revealed for the first time in 75 years
On a normal day, Sweden’s national kilogram is securely stored in a safe at RISE. Photo: David Lagerlöf
Navet in Borås
300 participants from industry, academia, and government gathered at Navet in Borås for a day filled with inspiration and discussions. On stage, historian Dick Harrison offered historical perspectives on metrology, while speakers from Saab, Scania, KTH, and Chalmers shared insights and stressed the importance of metrology in a wide range of fields.
Sweden’s kilogram on stage
Perhaps the most magical moment of the day, and a popular opportunity for selfies, was when participants got to see Sweden’s national kilogram. A unique occasion, as it hadn’t been publicly displayed in over 75 years! Normally, the national kilogram is securely stored in a safe at RISE.
Interesting conversations
Catarina Sahlberg, Director of Big Science Sweden and also Chair of Vinnova’s advisory board for the national measurement standard at RISE, was also present at the event and highlighted:
“It was an insightful day! With plenty of room for networking in the programme, there were many interesting conversations with both new and familiar faces.”
Jonas Brändström (Vinnova), Catarina Danestig Sjögren (Swedish Radiation Safety Authority), Jan Johansson (RISE), Robert Casselbrant (RISE), Håkan Pettersson (Swedac), and Catarina Sahlberg (Big Science Sweden) unveil the national kilogram. Photo: David Lagerlöf
The Metre Convention
On 20 May 1875, Sweden and 16 other countries signed the Metre Convention in Paris, paving the way for reliable and comparable measurements worldwide. In Sweden, the metric system was officially introduced through a royal decree in 1878. The standardisation solved issues with local measurements and weights and was a crucial factor for Swedish competitiveness and international trade.
Photo: David Lagerlöf