EARTO Pilot
Fraunhofer ISI
Course name
Research & Development and Standardisation, “Effectively participating in standardisation bodies, Strategic standardization for RTOs/ Beginners, Intermediate experts, Sophisticated experts
Nov-Dec 2025
Level 4,5,6,7
Teaching methods and content:
This Pilot is designed to provide a comprehensive learning pathway. The programme is composed of six online webinars, one for each module, and covers three different target groups, from beginners to sophisticated experts. Each module is set as follows:
- Module 1 - Standardisation Landscape:
- Introduction
- Basics of standardisation
- standards organisation
- standardisation landscape
- linkages between standard development organisation
- Module 2 - Types and impacts of standards:
- Introduction
- basics of standards
- effects of standards
- Module 3 - Research and Standardisation:
- Definition of R&D
- interlinkages between R&D and standardisation
- impact of standards on research and innovation
- Module 4 - IPRs and Standardisation:
- Introduction
- IPRs and its different forms
- ways in which IPRs can be relevant to standards and standardisation
- tension between patents and standards
- IPR policies at SDOs
- IPR, standards and the legal system
- patent pools
- public interest and policy initiatives
- Module 5 - Standardisation and Open Source:
- Introduction
- open standards
- free and open source and standards
- practical implications
- Module 6 - Geopolitics, Values and Standardisation:
- Introduction
- standards and geopolitics: contextual dimensions
- definition of technology sovreignity and basic understanding
- standardisation and standards safeguarding mechanism for Technology Sovrereignity
- Mobile communication standardisation as an illustration
- recommendations
- challenges
- conclusion
- references
Pilot Overview
This pilot was conducted by Knut Blind from Fraunhofer ISI, the coordinating institution of the EDU4Standards project. Designed to address the diverse needs of the research community, the pilot consists of six webinars structured across three distinct expertise levels:
- Beginners: “Research & Development and Standardisation” course provides a concise yet in-depth understanding of standardisation as relevant from a Research and Technology (RTO) perspective.
- Intermediate experts: “Effectively participating in standardisation bodies” course addresses skills to operate in standards bodies.
- Sophisticated experts: “Strategic standardization for RTOs” high-level course, aimed at senior researchers, offers a tailored format for standardisation topics for management level also related to RTO’s business models (e.g., IPRs, SEPs, Open Source).
Pilot Objectives and Materials
- Module 1 - Standardisation Landscape:
- To know the difference between standards and regulations.
- To understand and apply the different criteria for the classifications of standardisation organisations.
- To understand why standards are usually referenced by legislation, and the need to issue standardisation requests when a societal need is identified in a specific area.
- To be able to describe the role in standardisation of Standards Development Organisations (SDOs), recognised SDOs, and industrial consortia, as well as their interplay.
- To identify the characteristics of formal and de facto standardisation, and to be aware of the processes through which de facto standards are adopted by SDOs.
- To understand the differences among National, Regional and International organisations, the benefits derived of their coordination, and to be aware of the main agreements and procedures supporting it.
- Module 2 - Types and Impacts of Standards:
- To know the various functions of standards
- To understand Compatibility/ Interface Standards, Minimum Quality/ Safety Standards, Variety Reduction Standards, and Information/ Measurement Standards
- To be able to apply the different types of standards to specific topics
- Module 3 - Research and Standardisation:
- Define research and its interface to standardisation
- Getting insights into the interdependencies between research and standardisation
- Understand how research and standardisation can benefit each other
- Understand how research insights can be integrated into standardisation
- Know examples of standards, which can support research
- Module 4 - IPRs and Standardisation:
- To know the various forms of IPRs
- To understand the tensions between patents and standards
- To know the different types of IPR policies of SDOs
- To comprehend the possible role of patent pools in the context of standards
- To understand the policy relevance of IPRs in standardisation
- Module 5 - Standardisation and Open Source:
- To understand the difference between standardisation and open source
- To understand their interactions from ideation to diffusion
- To identify their strengths and weaknesses.
- Module 6 - Geopolitics, Values and Standardisation:
- To know the geopolitical dimensions relevant for standardisation
- To understand the concept of technological sovereignty
- To explain the role of standardisation and standards in contributing to achieving and safeguarding technological sovereignty
- To apply standardisation and standards for safeguarding technological sovereignty in specific contexts
- To analyse the challenges faced by countries in leveraging standardisation for technological sovereignty.
Duration and Schedule
The pilot consisted of six sessions, delivered as follows:
- Module 1: Standardisation Landscape 6.11. 2025
- Module 2: Types and Impacts of Standards 13.11. 2025
- Module 3: Research and Standardisation 20.11. 2025
- Module 4: IPRs and Standardisation 27.11. 2025
- Module 5: Open Source and Standardisation with Mirko Böhm LF 4.12. 2025
- Module 6: Geopolitics, Values and Standardisation with Barbara Reiter Uni Graz 11.12. 2025
Trainer and Trainees
Trainer:
Knut Blind, Fraunhofer ISI
Trainees:
Beginners, Intermediate experts and sophisticated experts.