NLR | National Aerospace Laboratory | The Netherlands

NLR is an independent non-profit research institute based in the Netherlands that carries out contract research for national and international customers.

Mission
The mission of the Foundation NLR is to provide expert contributions to activities in aerospace and related fields. NLR independently renders services to government departments and international agencies, aerospace industries and aircraft and spacecraft operators. Customers include various organizations based in the Netherlands, in Europe and elsewhere.

Type of organization
NLR is a non-profit organization, one of the Large Technological Institutes of the Netherlands. NLR's staff of about 900 currently includes about 400 university graduates, and about 300 graduates from advanced technical colleges.

Funding
About 75 per cent of NLR's activities consists of research and development under contract. For its basic research programme and for the development of specialized research equipment, NLR receives government subsidies.

Working procedures
The work is carried out by project groups, often composed of specialists in various technological disciplines. NLR has implemented security regulations that safeguard its customers' and its own interests. Access to the facilities is limited, and research results remain confidential as is agreed.

Quality Management, Certification, Accreditation
NLR has implemented a quality system based on the ISO 9001:2000 and AQAP-110 standards. KEMA Quality has granted NLR a certificate that covers all divisions, services and staff groups of NLR. In addition, the Dutch Council for Accreditation has granted NLR four Accreditation Certificates: Calibration certificates K039 for pressures, K042 for forces and K038 for electronic quantities, and test certificate L220 for EMC measurements.

A short history
NLR has been operating as an independent foundation serving both public and private organizations since 1937. Its precursor, the Government Service for Aeronautical Studies, was founded in 1919. In 1940, the then Nationaal Luchtvaart Laboratorium (National Aeronautical Laboratory NLL) moved to newly built facilities on a site on the outskirts of Amsterdam still housing NLR Amsterdam. From 1957, additional facilities were built on a site in the Noordoostpolder in the Province of Flevoland, reclaimed from the former Zuiderzee. In 1961 the name of NLL was changed into Nationaal Lucht- en Ruimtevaartlaboratorium (National Aerospace Laboratory NLR), to include space flight.