ExpectedOutcome:
Building on the successful action of the first phase of the FPI InDiCo project on international cooperation on ICT standardisation, the expected outcomes include (i) enhancing the promotion of the EU ICT/digital standards for key technologies in the Horizon Europe programme; (ii) the promotion of the EU model for setting global interoperable ICT/digital standards (stakeholder driven model) in selected targeted countries and (iii) understanding standardisation ecosystems and when relevant fostering capacity building in third countries for ICT/digital standardisation around EU values.
The targeted countries and regions are India, China, Southeast Asia, the African Union, Latin America and Caribbean (LAC), the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership.
Scope:
This Action will promote the EU’s human-centred agenda on the global stage and promote the alignment and convergence of international standards with EU standards, as pursued in the Digital Compass Strategy and in support of the Global Gateway. Besides, it will also enable that the targeted countries can strengthen the link between standards and their policy and regulatory framework, adopting the EU values and underpinning the EU Digital and the EU Standardisation Strategy, by:
- Enhancing the cooperation with selected countries participating in InDiCo (India, China, Brazil and LAC region), and extending its geographic scope to important areas where the EU position should be reinforced such as the Western Balkans, the Eastern Partnership, Southeast Asia and the African Union.
- Extending its technological reach to cover better technologies that are prioritized in Horizon Europe, such as AI, 5G and beyond, IoT and its security aspects, internet, cybersecurity, data, eID, quantum, digital ledger technologies (DLT), circular economy or smart cities.
- Understanding of the third countries’ standardisation ecosystem and when relevant capacity building in terms of digital standardisation, facilitating alignment around EU values and positions in international digital SDOs and other international fora (e.g. 3GPP, oneM2M, IETF, IEEE).
Proposals should build on the outcomes achieved in the first phase of InDiCo, as well as in the experience gained and the studies and action that have been implemented.
Due to the strategic importance for the EU interests, proposals should include European experts on standardisation, with excellent knowledge of the European Standardisation Organisations (CEN, CENELEC and ETSI) and their international activities.
This topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities. Expertise in SSH is important in the context of this project to defending EU values and ethics and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Proposals should address the following key tasks:
- T1: Activities to support effective engagement on the EU standardisation model and EU standards:
Analysis of key Standard Development Organisations (SDOs) and countries/regions active in the priorities identified in the Commission Rolling Plan on ICT Standardisation.
Development of case studies/best practices on the EU standardisation model and the harmonisation of global standards on priorities identified in the Commission Rolling Plan on ICT Standardisation.
Development of common approaches, tools and guidelines, e.g., on lessons learned
- T2: Policy outreach, dialogue, and knowledge exchange activities for targeted actors. These activities will be conducted with different actors in various formats including through the organisation or participation at national and regional levels in international groups, specialised workshops, hackathons, interoperability events and roadshows. The aim will be to progressively improve a common understanding regarding the cooperation towards harmonised international open standards including the promotion of the European model, and the outreach of European ICT Standards to key countries identified in the research activity. When relevant support proof of concepts of the implementation of standards
- T3: Communication and dissemination activities to promote broader sharing of EU Data Protection Model and stimulate knowledge sharing and capitalisation.
