Standards make the world go round

02/12/2019

Standards make the world go round COST connect action for standards

On the 28 and 29 November 2019, in Brussels, Belgium, over 40 experts from the field of standardisation met for COST Connect, “Action for Standards”. The event, which was organised by COST in collaboration with CEN and CENELEC and the Joint Research Centre (JRC), aimed to address many key issues relating to the field of standardisation, including how to develop better synergies between COST Actions and standardisation activities and how to better facilitate the voice of research in standards at the pan-European level.

The event started with a number of presentations explaining the current state of play for standardisation activities and stakeholders.

“Almost 70% of the work of the JRC is linked to standards. It is important to the single market, to our safety, security, environment and health.” Fabio Taucer, Joint Research Centre (JRC).

“Standardisation has its own fast pace, sometimes at odds with research” Prof. Claude Oestges from COST Action IRACON.

The group then proposed questions to answer in order to create positive changes for the field of European standardisation, including how to envisage standardisation and how to improve stakeholder engagement. The group also discussed incentives for researchers and maximising synergies between research and standardisation. One of the conclusions from the event was the need for better education for researchers to understand how to contribute to and maximise their efforts in this area. Ideas and findings from this event will now be explored to see if and how COST could offer further support.

A selection of tweets from the event

COST Connect

COST Connect are a series of thematic workshops organised by the COST Association, which provide an open space for researchers, policy makers and research and innovation (R&I) stakeholders to network and grow their ideas. It brings together a broad set of actors from the European Research Area (ERA) and beyond with the aim to stimulate and strengthen multi-stakeholder partnerships.

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Participating COST Actions:

CA18128 Saving European Archaeology from the Digital Dark Age
CA18224 Green Chemical Engineering Network towards upscaling sustainable processes
CA18219 Research network for including geothermal technologies into decarbonized heating and cooling grids
CA18120 Reliable roadmap for certification of bonded primary structures
CA17133 Implementing nature-based solutions for creating a resourceful circular city
CA17115 European network for advancing Electromagnetic hyperthermic medical technologies
CA16226 Indoor living space improvement: Smart Habitat for the Elderly
CA16219 Harmonization of UAS techniques for agricultural and natural ecosystems monitoring
CA16109 Chemical On-Line cOmpoSition and Source Apportionment of fine aerosol
CA15202 Self-healing As preventive Repair of COncrete Structures
CA15127 Resilient communication services protecting end-user applications from disaster-based failures (RECODIS)
CA15107 Multi-Functional Nano-Carbon Composite Materials Network (MultiComp)
CA15104 Inclusive Radio Communication Networks for 5G and beyond (IRACON)
CA15140 Improving Applicability of Nature-Inspired Optimisation by Joining Theory and Practice
(ImAppNIO)
CA17136 Indoor Air Pollution Network
CA15219 Developing new genetic tools for bioassessment of aquatic ecosystems in Europe
CA15110 Harmonising standardisation strategies to increase efficiency and competitiveness of European life-science research (CHARME)
CA18130 European Network for Chemical Elemental Analysis by Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence
TU1402 Quantifying the value of structural health monitoring
TU1406 Quality specifications for roadway bridges, standardization at a European level (BridgeSpec)
TN1302 The voice of research administrators – Building a network of administrative excellence (BESTPRAC)