A new invitation to submit proposals under the Standardisation strand of the Single Market Programme is open for applications until 16 May 2024.
The following beneficiaries are identified for funding under this invitation to submit a proposal:
- Small Business Standards (SBS)
- The European Consumer Voice in Standardisation (ANEC)
- The Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS)
- The European Trade Union Confederation (CES ETUC).
The call foresees a total budget of EUR 5 774 000.
The grants will be awarded under the following 4 topics supporting the EC Standardisation strategy:
Topic 1. SMP-STAND-2024-1-AG-IBA-SBS - Support to organisations representing SMEs interests in standardisation activities
Topic 2. SMP-STAND-2024-1-OG-IBA-ANEC - Support to organisations representing consumer interests in standardisation activities
Topic 3. SMP-STAND-2024-1-OG-IBA-ECOS - Support to organisations representing environmental interests in standardisation activities
Topic 4. SMP-STAND-2024-1-OG-IBA-ETUC - Support to organisations representing social interests in standardisation activities
EU standards and EISMEA
As of 1 April 2021, the Support to Standardisation strand of the Single Market Programme is managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA).
The Regulation (EU) 1025/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European standardisation, adopted on 25 October 2012 emphasises the importance of the participation of all relevant interested parties including SMEs and societal and social stakeholders in the European standardisation process.
Standards are important tools for the competitiveness of undertakings and especially SMEs, whose participation in the standardisation process is important for technological progress in the Union.
Furthermore, standards can have a broad impact on society, in particular on the safety and well-being of citizens, the efficiency of networks, the environment, workers’ safety and working conditions, accessibility and other public policy fields.
However, standards are written by technical experts who represent the fields of activity of the companies which these experts work for. It is therefore important for the EU to facilitate and support the participation of experts representing background and interests of SMEs and societal and social stakeholders in the standardisation process, especially in the European context where European standards play a very important role in supporting EU legislations and EU policies. Historically, the participation of SMEs and societal and social stakeholders had been supported by different EU programmes.
The Regulation has put the inclusiveness of the European standardisation process as a priority and unified the legal basis for the role, the establishment and the financing of European stakeholder’s organisations in standardisation.
Details
- Publication date
- 11 March 2024
- Author
- European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency