Standardization and research - Initiatives in the ICT sector
European standards are an essential part of the Single Market, preventing barriers to trade and providing technical support to legislation, and promoting the competitiveness of European industry. CEN, the European Committee for Standardization, has, since 1992, worked to develop closer and more efficient links between European R&D and standardization bodies within the STAR initiative. In June 1997, the STAR meeting agreed to review the links between standardization and research in the information technologies field, as well as the methodology which could be used, recognizing its lack of activity in the field. This review group, meeting in September 1997, has called for strategic actions to address the dislocations between the RTD and standardization communities, in particular in respect of the Fifth Framework Programme. These actions should: - Encourage researchers to consider the standards implications of their projects at an early stage; - Arrange for evaluation of project developments at an appropriate stage from the point of view of their standards implications; - Promote the participation of standard-makers and standardizers within project teams to develop early drafts in forms suitable for fast acceptance as standards. Specific actions for support identified include the identification of related standardization activities in submitted proposals, and arrangements for some financial support of nominated standards experts as part of a project consortium.