The document discusses the process of standardization in ICT technology transfer, highlighting its role in fostering innovation and facilitating market readiness. It addresses the balance between patents and standards, noting the challenges in achieving interoperability and consumer choice. A standardization workshop is proposed to engage organizations and stakeholders to discuss the interplay between research, industry, and policy in the standardization process.

1. Standardisation & Certification
FITT
– Fostering Interregional Exchange in ICT Technology Transfer –
www.FITT-for-Innovation.eu
Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

2. Process ‘standardization’ in general
Standardization is the process of developing and agreeing upon technical
standards. A standard is a document that establishes uniform
engineering or technical specifications, criteria, methods, processes, or
practices.
Standardization, while promoting innovation, is an important part of the
R&D-activities. Even in the very early stage of research, standardization
is yet an issue, e.g. for the new technology to be universally recognized,
having a quick launch to market, ensuring quality and facilitating trade,
enhancing visibility and transparency…
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3. Process ‘standardization’ in general
In relation to patents, there are commonalities as well as potential
conflicts.
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4. Process ‘standardization’ in general
Patents and standards are opposed in terms of monopoly versus free
collective use. It is quite a challenge to find the balance.
• Rights of patent owner to enjoy benefits
• Third parties want to make and sell interoperable products corresponding to the
standard
• Public (user, consumer…) wants freedom to choose between different products even
after a standardization
• Standardization authority cannot define a standard that will be blocked
Especially for research environment, where patenting is a rather recent and
less common activity (certainly in Europe, and even more likely in ICT), it
is not easy to elaborate the right patent strategy related to sometimes
overwhelming standardization aspects.
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5. FITT standardization workshop
FITT project event on the agenda, to be planned for end of 2010
Main focus of the standardization workshop is to discuss the role of
research in the domain of standardization, including in relation to
other stakeholders in this field such as industry and policy
organizations.
In particular, following aspects can be part of the discussion
• Research results (intellectual property, possibly protected) fitting for
standardization
• Research institutions’ availability or accessibility to standards (in
progress)
• Research leading to standards, and vice versa, standards generating
further need of research
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6. FITT standardization workshop
Overall mission of the workshop:
The idea of the standardization workshop is to bring organizations
involved and their stakeholders together in order to effectively and
efficiently reach the target focus and closely interact within the
research-industry-policy triangle. This will enable an interesting
debate across different disciplines and communities and raise the
visibility of the achievements with public authorities and companies.
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7. FITT standardization workshop
A possible approach could be to have the following program outline:
Detailed list of speakers/panel members to be defined…
The idea related to schematic presentation above is to have a few
keynote speakers during the day as well as a research, an industry
and a policy panel respectively.
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