The vital role of standards in our smart world

The internet of things, smart cities, AI, smart mobility, additive manufacturing all impact the way we produce, trade, live and communicate, much like steam power transformed production methods and the way of life of many societies during the first industrial revolution.

Today, Standards play a key role in the transition to this new era. The speed of change we are witnessing would not be possible without them. Innovators rely on International Standards to ensure compatibility and interoperability, so that new technologies can be seamlessly adopted. They are also a vehicle to spread knowledge and innovation globally, allowing developing countries to benefit from this know-how.

Broad cooperation across borders is more important than ever. With the help of thousands of experts from many different organizations, the IEC provides the technical foundation to address some of humanity’s greatest challenges, including universal energy access, rapid urbanization, climate mitigation or cyber security.