At a time when Europe needs more innovation in order to remain competitive on the global stage, standardization can be a bridge between research, innovation and the market, and can provide a strong contribution to the creation of economic values.
Both at EU level, and within CEN and CENELEC there is a strong support to reinforce the links between Research/ Development/ Innovation and Standardization. These links are recognised in key political documents from all EU institutions, for example in the Communication on the “Innovation Union” within the EU 2020 Strategy, where the European Commission states that “Standards play an important role for innovation”. They are also referenced in the June 2011 Communication of the European Commission “A strategic vision for European Standards: Moving forward to enhance and accelerate the sustainable growth of the European economy by 2020”.
Consult online the list of key policy documents related to innovation and standardization.
The CEN and CENELEC working group STAIR (STAndardization, Innovation and Research) is very much involved in the reflection around HORIZON 2020, the future EU Framework for Research and Innovation. In this respect, the STAIR Group has provided an answer to the consultation of the European Commission on the future Framework for Research and Innovation.
The CEN and CENELEC position paper on the proposal for HORIZON 2020 can also be consulted online.