FAQs and Research Helpdesk

The growing relevance of standardization in the context of research projects and the valorisation of the resulting knowledge is demonstrated by the growing number of call topics in which a reference to standardization is made. CEN and CENELEC regularly screen Horizon Europe work programmes to identify call topics relevant to standardization. The result of the screening is made available on CEN-CENELEC website

There are different ways in which standardization can be addressed in the project proposal. The proposal can for instance commit to developing a Standardization Roadmap as a project deliverable. In the Roadmap, the current status of standardization in the specific area of the call is outlined following an extensive analysis. The Standardization Roadmap can include future fields of activities and concrete recommendations for standardization.

The standardization work described in the Roadmap can be addressed during the project by contributing to existing and/or initiating new standards or other standardization deliverables. This standardization activity can also be addressed without the explicit delivery of a Roadmap.

Yes, this is possible.

Two ways to do so:

1. Most standardization deliverables are developed in Technical Committees (TCs). Participants in the TCs represent the view of the National Standards Body in their country. For the project to contribute to the development, one possibility could be via project partners who are or can become via the National Standards Body in their country. Or the project can request ‘liaison status’ within the relevant Technical Committee(s). This enables the project to participate in and contribute (without voting rights) to the activities of the Technical Committee(s).
2. Another possibility to develop a standardization deliverable is to deliver a CEN and/or CENELEC Workshop Agreement (CWA). CWAs are developed by the direct participation of interested parties (there is no participation of nationally appointed delegates) and can be delivered in a fast and flexible manner.

In this case, there are two main aspects that have to be considered when drafting the project proposal.

Firstly, the development of a specific CWA is not always acceptable: CWAs cannot conflict with existing European Standards (EN), they cannot specify safety requirements and CWAs may not duplicate a similar standardization project already taking place in a TC. It is therefore good practice to describe the scope of the future CWA in broad terms to avoid making promises in the proposal which cannot be carried out.

A second aspect is that the CWA is developed by a working group of interested parties (the Workshop), with the mandatory involvement of a CEN-CENELEC National Member to hold the position of Workshop secretariat. It is therefore necessary to take into consideration in the project budget a suitable funding for this secretariat role. It is a recommended to include a CEN-CENELEC National Member as a project partner to facilitate the CWA. However, it is also possible for the project to set aside a sufficient budget and to subcontract the secretariat role to a CEN-CENELEC National Member during the project.

To deliver a CWA, it is required to involve a CEN-CENELEC National Member to hold the role of Workshop secretariat.

If the project consortium includes a CEN-CENELEC National Member, or if there are already established contacts with a National Member, the National Member knows how to progress. The process to start a Workshop and deliver a CWA is described in detail in CEN-CENELEC Guide 29 “CEN/CENELEC Workshop Agreements – A rapid way to standardization"

If no CEN-CENELEC National Member was identified during the project proposal phase, and no contacts were established with a National Member, the CEN-CENELEC research helpdesk (research@cencenelec.eu) can upon request assist the project in identifying a suitable National Member. 

CEN and CENELEC will retain the copyright of the final CWA and therefore, the CWA cannot be a public project deliverable for download from the project’s website. It is recommended to produce a public project deliverable that describes the scope of the CWA and directs the reader to the CEN and CENELEC website or to its National Members where the numbered CWA-document can be obtained.

There are various ways how a project can link with CEN and/or CENELEC:

• CEN and/or CENELEC joins the project consortium as a partner
• A National Member of CEN and/or CENELEC joins the project consortium as a partner
• The project participates in the activities of a relevant CEN and/or CENELEC Technical Committee, e.g. through a project liaison
• The project initiates a Workshop process to deliver a CWA
• The project invites one or more standardization experts with a link to CEN and/or CENELEC in their External Advisory Board
• The project organises a specific event and invites one or more standardization experts with a link to CEN and/or CENELEC to participate
• CEN and CENELEC can also provide a Letter of Support to projects that plan to address standardization
• Technical experts in CEN and/or CENELEC Technical Committees can be invited to join advisory boards or steering committees

What kind of support that can be given (and by whom) will depend on the project’s relevance for standardization and the availability of the targeted parties.

Moreover, CEN and CENELEC recognize the contribution of researchers and research projects to standardization through their annual S+I awards

CEN and/or CENELEC can join a project consortium with staff from the Brussels-based CEN-CENELEC Management Centre (CCMC) if the project call is deemed relevant. However, CEN and CENELEC are only rarely directly involved in research projects as partners but rather refers proposals to one or more of the CEN and/or CENELEC National Members. This is because any specific standardization activity planned in the project, be it in a Technical Committee or Workshop, this way will be able to benefit directly from the support of a National Member. Direct participation of CEN and/or CENELEC with CCMC staff is generally reserved for projects of a strategic and horizontal nature as typically in the case for Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs).

Participation in a project’s advisory board is best taken up by a technical expert in standardization within the specific topic of the project. This suggests the invitation of a motivated expert linked to specific CEN and/or CENELEC Technical Committees. The expert’s motivation may be assisted by ensuring at least a fair contribution (in kind or not) of any costs incurred to perform that role. The CEN and CENELEC Research Helpdesk (research@cencenelec.eu) can assist you in identifying a relevant technical expert.

General information addressing questions such as “Could your R&I project benefit from standardization?” is available on the Standards+Innovation Website and the e-Learning tool. 

Standards are made available through the CEN and/or CENELEC National Members. Access to standards texts (including the conditions under which this is acceptable) is to be addressed directly with your National Standards Body or National Committee. You should contact your NSB to learn whether/how a facilitated access to standards for university students is offered.