ISO has set an ambitious goal to see international standards used everywhere. To realize this goal, we must work to demonstrate the benefits that international standards bring. ISO’s research activities aim to understand and communicate how standards support economic growth, social progress and environmental sustainability.

Despite the widespread use of standards, they often remain hidden, working modestly behind the scenes to underpin the technology and services that we rely on. Sometimes the contribution made by standards can be hard to explain or quantify. ISO promotes and conducts research so we can better understand the impacts of standards and how to maximize their benefits. From the results of this research, we produce materials to help communicate key findings to businesses, learning institutions and the wider public. Our goal is not only to foster a better understanding of the advantages that standards bring to both organizations and society, but also to build interest in taking part in international standardization. To find out more, hear from businesses and browse ISO case studies that clearly show the benefits that standards can bring.

Foresight in ISO

Part of the ISO Strategy 2030 involves ISO examining external drivers of change and evaluating their impact on our organization. Using foresight tools and methodologies, ISO is following global trends, analyzing their links to existing ISO work, and asking what their implications for standardization could be. Our ultimate aim is to better understand the context in which we operate, so that ISO can effectively meet emerging market needs and help to shape a more sustainable future.