Marek Šmíd has an MSc in laser physics and a PhD in precision laser-based dimensional metrology, both awarded by the Czech Technical University, Prague. Following this his early research focused on laser spectroscopy systems for hyper-precise positioning at the nanometre and sub-nanometre scale.
In 2003, he was entrusted with establishing optical metrology — encompassing photometry, radiometry, and colorimetry — as a new discipline within the Czech Metrology Institute. Over the following decade he built this into a leading European centre of excellence, realising primary standards across the full range of optical measurement quantities and providing a unique portfolio of metrological services to national and international customers alike.
He served as Head of the Department of Optical Radiometry and Photometry from 2003 to 2021, before becoming Director of the Laboratory of Primary Metrology (CMI Internal organisation unit) in 2022. Since 2024 he has served as Director for Fundamental Metrology and statutory representative of the Czech Metrology Institute.
His international leadership roles reflect the breadth and depth of his contributions to the global metrology community. He chaired the EURAMET Technical Committee for Photometry and Radiometry from 2010 to 2015, led CMI to full membership of the CCPR CIPM in 2014, and since 2017 has served as Chair of the CCPR Working Group for Calibration and Measurement Capabilities. Since 2025 he has served as a member of the EURAMET Board of Directors.
He is President of the Czech National Committee of the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) and delegate of the Czech Republic within this international standards body.
He has contributed to the leadership of more than twenty international research projects under the EMRP, EMPIR, and EPM programmes, and is the author or co-author of more than 40 papers in peer-reviewed international journals.