Brussels – 5 December 2011

The proposal for HORIZON 2020, adopted on 30 November 2011 by the European Commission, recognizes the role of standardization in supporting the market take-up of innovation. The European Standards Organizations are fully committed to play a key role in HORIZON 2020, hence contributing to the objectives of the Innovation Union.

In the new proposal for HORIZON 2020, standardization is mentioned in all three priority pillars: Excellent Science, Industrial Leadership and Societal Challenges. Standards and the standardization process are identified as tools which help accelerate the deployment and diffusion of innovative products and services into the market.

The key role of standardization as a bridge between research, innovation and market has been recognized in recent political initiatives by all EU institutions. More and more researchers and companies understand the role standards play and seek to include pre-normative research and standardization activities in their research projects.

The implementation of Horizon 2020 will aim to respond to the evolving opportunities and needs from science and technology, industry, policies and society. The European Standards Organizations are fully committed to support Horizon 2020 and help tackle the technical barriers to innovation in Europe. We are seeking considerable improvements in the links between standardization, innovation and research, and are ready to collaborate with the European Commission to provide a long-term framework to link appropriate research results with standardization.

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Visit us at the Innovation Convention in Brussels on 5 and 6 December Stand VI in the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Avenue.

Are you aware of the benefits of standards for researchers and innovators?

  • Standards give you faster and easier access to markets
  • Standards help you exploit your research results
  • Standards enhance the economic value of your research project
  • Standards give you the opportunity to network with specialists from your field
  • Standards ensure interoperability and reassurance for consumers

Notes for Editors 
About CEN
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) is a business catalyst in Europe, removing trade barriers for European stakeholders such as industry, public administration, service providers, consumers and other stakeholders. Its mission is to foster the European economy in global trading, the welfare of European citizens, and the environment. Through its services CEN provides a platform for the development of European Standards and other specifications.

CEN's 31 National Members work together to develop voluntary European Standards (ENs) in various sectors to build a European Internal Market for goods and services and to position Europe in the global economy. By supporting research, and helping disseminate innovation, standards are a powerful tool for economic growth. More than 60.000 technical experts as well as business federations, consumer and other societal interest organizations are involved in the CEN network that reaches over 500 million people.

About CENELEC
The European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization is officially responsible for standardization in the electrotechnical field. In an ever more global economy, CENELEC fosters innovation and competitiveness, making technology available not only to major businesses but also to SMEs through the production of voluntary standards. CENELEC creates market access at the European level but also at the international level through its cooperation agreement with the International Electrotechnical Commission.

Through the work of its 31 Members together with its experts, the industry federations and consumers, Electrotechnical European Standards are created in order to help shape the European Internal Market, to encourage technological development, to ensure interoperability and to guarantee the safety and health of consumers and provide environmental protection.
Detailed information available at http://www.cenelec.eu/

Contact: For general CEN and CENELEC press enquiries:
Christine Van Vlierden
Communication Unit – CEN-CENELEC Management Centre
Tel: +32 2 550 09 26
Email: cvanvlierden@cencenelec.eu

For Research and Innovation enquiries:
Ségolène Martin
Research and Integration – CEN-CENELEC Management Centre Tel: +32 2 550 08 33
CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk:
research@cencenelec.eu

About ETSI
ETSI produces globally-applicable standards for Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), including fixed, mobile, radio, converged, aeronautical, broadcast and internet technologies and is officially recognized by the European Union as a European Standards Organization. ETSI is an independent, not-for-profit association whose more than 700 member companies and organizations, drawn from 62 countries across 5 continents worldwide, determine its work programme and participate directly in its work. 
For more information please visit: www.etsi.org. 

The ETSI logo is a Trade Mark of ETSI registered for the benefit of its Members.

For ETSI press enquiries:

Ultan Mulligan
Events & Communications,  ETSI
Tel: +33 4 92944388
Email: ultan.mulligan@etsi.org