VU Amsterdam and VSL join forces on resilient national time infrastructure

VU Amsterdam and VSL join forces on resilient national time infrastructure

VSL and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on highly accurate time networks. The partnership strengthens the development of a resilient Dutch national time infrastructure and reduces dependency on satellite navigation systems such as GPS and Galileo.

The agreement represents an important milestone in building a national time infrastructure that supports critical systems, including mobile communication networks and power grids, which rely heavily on precise and reliable time signals.

 

The collaboration builds on advanced network technologies that enable atomic clocks at different locations to be connected via fibre‑optic networks into a robust national time reference. These networks also make it possible to distribute signals from ultra‑precise optical clocks.

 

Such a time infrastructure can serve as a reliable back‑up for satellite‑based time signals, while simultaneously enabling a wide range of scientific and technological innovations. Potential applications include advanced positioning technologies, radio astronomy, geodesy, quantum communication, and the use of fibre‑optic cables as highly sensitive seismic sensors.

 

The strength of the partnership lies in the complementary roles of both organisations.

Fabienne van Booma, Managing Director of VSL, explains:
“As the National Metrology Institute of the Netherlands, VSL is legally responsible for maintaining and disseminating the national time scale UTC(VSL). Scientific breakthroughs in time‑network technologies at VU can support VSL in achieving higher accuracy and reliability. Together, we stimulate innovation in this critical field.”

 

The collaboration includes joint research projects, knowledge exchange, visiting researchers, workshops and scientific publications. VSL and VU will also cooperate in acquiring and executing national and international research projects.

Margrethe Jonkman, President of the Executive Board of VU Amsterdam, adds:
“With this collaboration, VU and VSL demonstrate their shared ambition to prepare the Netherlands for future technological challenges, where accurate and reliable time provision will play an increasingly vital role.”