SME Access to European Standardization

Hank de Vries, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Knut Blind, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Axel Mangelsdorf, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Hugo Verheul, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, and Jappe van der Zwan, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University

11/24/2009
(Original Publish Date: 8/1/2009)

This study stems from a request from the European standards bodies Comit European de Normalisation (CEN European Committee for Standardization) and Comit European de Normalisation Electrotechnique (CENELEC European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) to come up with recommendations to the administrative boards of these organizations on how to improve access to European standardization for small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs). The ultimate aim is to provide solutions to improve the value of standardization and standards for SMEs and to reduce their financial impact. The project addresses both European standards (including their development) and standardization, and relates these to the business goals of SMEs. Standards may be relevant for almost any SME and, for a smaller number of SMEs, involvement in standardization is also relevant.