Greeting
COMS Steering Committee Chairman
Toshiyuki Fujimoto, AIST
The Consortium for Measurement Solution (COMS) is a consortium which consists of major measuring instrument manufacturers, analytical research centers, and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Scienceand Technology (AIST) in Japan. The goal of the consortium is to establish and operate a platformfor supplying measurement technology solutions that satisfy the needs of those that use various materials, which serve a core role in the manufacturing industry that underlies the Japanese economy.
A major COMS activity since its establishment (2013 to 2020) is to provide measuring technology useful for complying with nanomaterial particle size and concentration regulations that have started in parts of Europe and the Unitedstates. The consortium focused on creating ameasuring system with its core technology that fractionates (classifies) nanoparticles based on particle size. As a result, a measuring system incorporatinge ectron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, small angle X-ray scattering, and/or atomic force microscopy (AFM) was created internally at AIST to measure the size and size distribution of nanoparticles after fractionation. Furthermore, the system was used to indicate the validity of fractionation and clarify the differences between evaluated values obtained using different measurement methods after fractionation.
In 2021, COMS was reorganized as a new AIST consortium primarily focusing on the dissemination of information and knowledge related to measurement solutions; providing solutions to a wide range of users in the manufacturing industry. As the main activity, measurement equipment manufacturers and analysis centers that have development bases in Japan have been worked together, as we engage in research and standardization studies that attempt to satisfy measurement requirements in various technical fields. In addition to the characterization of nanomaterials, this consortium intends to identify and discuss fundamental and advanced measurement technology challenges common to biotechnology, energy, and other fields. Furthermore, in addition to improve/revise the past established measurement technology, it has been started that the new activities that form the basis for building a system and promoting cooperation in an all-Japan after extracting fundamental and advanced measurement technology issues.
Going forward, it will be continued to pay close attention to the opinions of material manufacturers and the users to develop and enhance our capabilities as a solution providing platform. It is appreciated a continual social support and cooperation.
