Standardisation refers to the process of developing and implementing technical standards based on consensus among different stakeholders. These standards establish uniform criteria and guidelines for products, processes, or services within a specific industry or sector. The goal is to ensure compatibility, interoperability, safety, quality, and efficiency. It helps streamline operations, facilitate trade, promote innovation, and enhance consumer protection by providing clear benchmarks and common frameworks that businesses and organizations can adhere to.

Standards play an increasingly important role in the EU’s commitment to a climate-neutral, resilient, and circular economy. In projects such as UP2030, standardisation is integral to the exploitation strategy, playing a role in supporting innovation by facilitating the transfer, commercialisation, and valorisation of project results. Within the goals of the exploitation strategy, standardisation is explored as a strategic business tool and through collaboration with CEN/TC 465 ‘Sustainable and Smart Cities and Communities’ (European Committee for Standardisation/Technical Committee).

The EU’s New Standardisation Strategy

Within the context of the European Union (EU), standards are positioned to help strengthen the EU’s global competitiveness, acting as the foundation of the EU Single Market. On February 2022, the European Commission (EC) presented its new Standardisation Strategy, designed to enable the global leadership of EU standards, fostering a resilient, green, and digitally advanced economy while promoting democratic values and social principles (European Commission, 2022).

Standardisation efforts are key to achieving several strategic priorities, as set out by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC). Such priorities and associated benefits include:

• A harmonised Single Market: standardisation streamlines processes and reduces barriers, therefore facilitating trade and enhancing economic cohesion across member states.

• Global competitiveness for European Industry: setting standards supports a competitive European industry, positioning it to lead in international trade and maintain a prominent position in global markets.

• Trust in emerging technologies: standardisation ensures that European best practices lead the digital transformation of society and prioritise the interests of European inhabitants.

• Catalyst for innovation: standardisation enables research and scientific results to reach the market.

• Alignment with the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda: standardisation supports the sustainable use of resources and energy while protecting consumers, workers, and the environment, reflecting the EU’s dedication to ensuring a green and sustainable future.

Standardisation as a key component of Horizon Research projects

With the adoption of the EU’s new Standardisation Strategy in 2022, standardisation became a significant component of Horizon Europe projects. The Strategy highlights the importance of incorporating standardisation activities to enhance the impact, regulatory compliance, and marketability of new technologies and solutions developed under the Horizon research framework. Integrating a standardisation strategy into project proposals and implementation plans, along with promoting collaboration with European and international standardisation organisations such as CEN and CENELEC, can enhance the commercial potential of project results and ensure they align with existing or emerging standards.

Additionally, incorporating standardisation within Horizon projects aligns with broader EU market and policy objectives, especially those related to green and digital transitions, as seen in UP2030. By developing or aligning results with standards that promote resilience, sustainability, energy efficiency, and digital integration, research projects can support the EU’s climate goals and digital strategy.

The Role of Standardisation in UP2030

In the project, there are two routes through which standardisation is explored:

1. As a strategic business tool for commercially exploitable results
2. In collaboration with CEN/TC 465 ‘Sustainable and Smart Cities and Communities’

Regarding standardisation as a strategic business tool, there are different ways through which a standardisation strategy can bring added value, leading to an increased competitive advantage. Two dimensions are specifically explored:

1. The commercial benefits linked to achieving innovation leadership: by being a ‘first mover’ in a specific industry, a company can influence the direction of the industry, create new markets, and gain early access to them.
2. The competitive advantage and business value gained through adopting standards already set by the industry: adopting standards can ensure that products and services seamlessly integrate with existing technologies, improving credibility, lowering costs, and expediting time to market.

Standardisation activities within the project are further explored through a potential collaborative engagement with CEN/TC 465, whose scope is to support standardisation within the domain of ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’ (CEN/TC 465, n.d.). This aligns with the principles of urban sustainable development as defined by ISO 37101, including resilience, attractiveness, well-being, social cohesion, preservation, improvement of the environment, and responsible resource use (CEN/TC 465, n.d.). The specific aim is to collaborate with the Working Group on Territorial Resilience Development, helping to achieve consensus on resilience concepts and laying the groundwork for a standardisation roadmap in the EU (CEN/TC 465, n.d.).

In the next months, we will further explore the potential for standardisation of exploitable results, ensuring their applicability and relevance across various contexts. By collaborating with the Territorial Resilience topical group of CEN/TC 465, we aim to align our findings with broader standardisation efforts, enhancing their impact and facilitating widespread adoption.