World Standards Day: see how HaDEA-managed projects contribute to international standardisation efforts

World Standards Day celebrates the collective efforts of thousands of experts worldwide who develop international voluntary standards within standardisation organisations. The day traces its origins to 14 October 1946, when delegates from 25 countries met in London and agreed to establish an international body dedicated to standardisation.

Standards play a vital role in ensuring quality, safety, and interoperability across sectors, while fostering innovation and sustainability. This year, the focus is on how collaboration through standards supports global progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Discover how some of the Horizon Europe projects managed by HaDEA contribute to the development and adoption of new standards:

• HARMLESS develops tools, guidance, and decision-support frameworks to improve the safety assessment of next-generation nanomaterials. By advancing scientific understanding of nanostructures and their transformations, the project supports the development of harmonised methods and standards for risk assessment. Its results contribute to ensuring that innovative nanomaterials entering the market are both functional and safe, reinforcing EU efforts toward responsible innovation and standardisation in nanotechnology.
• The AFCOS project aims to make construction materials standardisation more agile and responsive to the fast pace of the green and digital transitions. By developing recommendations and roadmaps for pre-standardisation and training, the project supports the creation of new standards for sustainable construction, including low-carbon cement. Its collaborative approach brings together research, industry and standardisation bodies to strengthen Europe’s leadership in innovative and flexible standardisation processes.
• STAN4SWAP works to define and harmonise standards for swappable battery systems in L-category vehicles, such as scooters and lightweight electric vehicles. By establishing a standardisation roadmap, the project supports interoperability, safety and sustainability in electric mobility. Its results will help accelerate the deployment of innovative battery technologies and contribute to decarbonising the transport sector in Europe.
• MACRAME develops harmonised methods to detect, characterise and assess the environmental and health risks of advanced materials throughout their life cycle. The project prepares these methods for standardisation and regulatory validation, ensuring they can be applied widely across industries. By contributing to safer and more sustainable innovation, MACRAME supports EU and international efforts to align research, regulation and standardisation in advanced materials.

Background

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation with a budget of €95.5 billion. It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth. HaDEA implements parts of Horizon Europe Clusters 1 (Health) and 4 (Digital, Industry, and Space). It was preceded by Horizon 2020.

Useful links

European standards (europa.eu)