The European Commission has published the report of the first European Standardisation Panel Survey, marking a significant milestone in creating value from research and innovation through standardisation. The Commission's efforts in this initiative have been bolstered by a consortium led by Technopolis Consulting Group Belgium, with the participation of the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research.
The survey outcomes offer valuable insights into the demands of various industries and stakeholders for standards, stemming from potential R&I projects. Moreover, they provide strategic guidance on how European Union R&I framework programmes can effectively address these demands, while also raising awareness regarding the pivotal role of standardisation as a conduit for knowledge valorisation.
With over 3,700 responses garnered from across Europe, predominantly from industry sectors, the survey underscores the need of policy initiatives, encompassing regulations and customer requirements, particularly within industry. Additionally, it highlights the significance of both independent and collaborative research endeavours as crucial sources for standard development.
The survey's findings have resulted in recommendations targeting various stakeholders, including industry players, higher education institutions, public research organizations, standard development organisations, research funding bodies, and policy makers. These recommendations aim to bridge the gap between industry demands for R&I-driven standards and the existing supply landscape. By equipping future beneficiaries of public R&I programmes with insights and methodologies for leveraging standardisation in valorising project outcomes, these recommendations are set to facilitate a more seamless integration of R&I into standardisation frameworks.
Standardisation serves as a pivotal conduit for effectual transfer, commercialisation, and valorisation of research outcomes, constituting a cornerstone of innovation endeavours. By ensuring compatibility, interoperability, and adherence to minimum quality, performance, and safety thresholds, standards play an instrumental role in enhancing economic, social, and environmental dimensions of R&I projects. Moreover, they facilitate economies of scale and bolster operational efficiency across supply chains, thus amplifying their impact on innovation ecosystems.
Indeed, standards can be instrumental in boosting entrepreneurial success, as they address critical demand-side factors such as trust and interoperability. Consequently, evidence on standardisation holds significance as an input for shaping innovation policies.