ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation in Brazilian University Laboratories: Reported Associations Within the Energy, Environment, Biofuels, and Sustainability Sectors

ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation provides a framework for demonstrating the technical competence of testing and calibration within an accredited scope, but its implementation in academic institutions may face structural challenges, such as staff turnover and undefined institutional roles. This study analyzes the Brazilian university laboratory context in the areas of energy, environment, biofuels, and sustainability, through a descriptive quantitative approach based on a survey of laboratory technical managers, complemented by a mapping of official databases and a review of the scientific literature. A total of 40 accredited university laboratories were identified in Brazil, of which 14 were within the specific scope of this study. Questionnaires were sent to all 14 laboratories, and 11 completed responses were obtained, corresponding to a response rate of 78.6%. Among the responding laboratories, 72.7% had maintained accreditation for more than five years, while 45.5% reported publishing more than 20 scientific articles annually. Furthermore, 90.9% of respondents reported using accreditation as a competitive element in funding proposals, and 81.8% reported annual revenues exceeding US$30,000. Regarding scientific production, 54.5% of respondents reported no immediate impact of accreditation on publication in higher-impact journals. International research collaboration was reported by 72.8% of respondents, while 63.6% reported undergraduate and/or graduate student participation in metrological activities. Overall, the findings indicate that respondents associate ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation with perceived benefits in laboratory organization, quality management, traceability, research credibility, and interaction with external partners, while also identifying financial, administrative, and human-resource challenges associated with maintaining accreditation.