Following the strong response to its inaugural edition in 2025, the WE NORM THE FUTURE | Summit returns this autumn. Austrian Standards will host a series of Expert Talks addressing key issues for Europe’s standardization community. Most of the Expert Talks will be held in German. Live audio translation and subtitles in English, French and Italian will be available throughout via the streaming page, making the discussions accessible to an international audience.
The series opens on 8 October with the Expert Talks on the EU Standardization Strategy. Under the title “Resilient. Democratic. Competitive. What sort of standardization does Europe need in 2035?”, the event will explore how Europe can strengthen its competitiveness and resilience while remaining closely connected to international standardization.
The program brings together representatives from European institutions, industry, and the standards community, with perspectives from Europe, India, and China. Several keynote presentations and discussions will be delivered in English, reflecting the international character of the event.
On 12 November, the Expert Talks on AI & Digital Innovation will focus on the transition from individual AI applications to trustworthy and interoperable systems. Topics include human-centric AI, skills and competencies, and the use of AI in critical infrastructure. The event is also part of the European AI Innovation Month.
The Expert Talks on Circular Economy will take place on 17 November. The program will cover secondary materials, traceability, the Digital Product Passport, and urban mining, exploring how standards can help circular value chains work across markets.
Also part of the WE NORM THE FUTURE | Summit 2026 series is the Annual Construction Conference – Jahrestagung Bau – on 20 October. It will examine how data, automation, and standards are changing the building life cycle. The conference will also be held in a hybrid format, but only in German this time.
All events are hybrid and free of charge.
Find out more:
8 October: EU Standardization Strategy
