Harmonisation and standardisation promote innovation in the following ways: 1. Standardisation is a powerful tool to implement results from research and development (R and D) on a larger scale. 2. Standardisation contributes to the creation of a common market and by that increased competition. This will in turn increase incentives for investment in research and development (R and D). 3. By participation in different technical committees, that are set up by the standardisation organisations on a European or global level, one will meet high ranked scientists from other countries. In doing so, an opportunity arises to aquire knowledge of new and established solutions abroad. To be able to be engaged in the standardisation activities in an appropriate way, one must be aware of the standardisation process, which comprises the following stages (in principle): 1. To initiate standards (mandates from the Commission). 2. To produce standards (CEN or EOTA committees). 3. To implement standards (CEDR members or other public bodies). 4. To use standards (by private enterprises on a common European market). The members of Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR) are the key players when implementing European standards into practice, as far as their fields of activities are concerned. The chosen strategy by CEDR to implement its mission comprises many elements that are related to standardisation activities. In view of the statement above, CEDR has set up a Technical Group Standardisation (TGS). This group confines itself to problems and principles on broad issues and ensures that clear opportunities are taken to understand, develop and propose a CEDR position in order to best influence all relevant bodies involved. The existing pro-active collaboration with the Commission, CEN, EOTA and the notified bodies is therefore of utmost importance. To support this a high-level Joint Advisory Group has been established (A). For the covering abstract of the conference see ITRD E212343.
Abstract