Access to Global Markets

Norms and standards facilitate export.

Using international standards and actively participating in the standardization process facilitates market access for products and services. Standards form a basis for economic success on the world market.

The joint research project Economic benefits of standards showed that 84 % of the businesses surveyed use European and International standards as part of their export strategy. Thus the use of standards is seen to be of greater importance as an instrument for globalization than setting up factories in the country of importation (13 %) and concluding delivery contracts in the country of importation (7 %).

Businesses that not only use standards but also actively participate in the standardization process enjoy even greater economic success, for "those who set the standard govern the market". Being part of standardization gives businesses the opportunity to successfully place their own technology on the market, gives them the advantage of knowing the needs of customers and operators, and provides insight into the technical developments of their competitors. When globally active businesses conclude agreements in growth markets, they want to be sure their partners all use the same standards.

“Standards give us access to global markets. Because of this we are not only active in standardization at European level but also internationally. For us, products that conform to standards are passports to other countries.”
Karl Dungs, Managing Director, DUNGS Combustion Controls

"Applying the standard allows us to market our products throughout Europe, because we comply with requirements that are basically the same everywhere in Europe."
José da Costa Fernandes, Quality Management Representative, Hecht Contactlinsen GmbH

"The EN gives us the assurance that we can install our play equipment anywhere in Europe without having to make national adjustments."
Torsten Frank, General Manager, COROCORD Raumnetz GmbH

 “In a globalized world international standards are the key that opens doors to new markets, particularly for medium-sized businesses.”
Michael Glos, Federal Minister, Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (until 2009)

“I consider standardization very useful because it gives us medium-sized manufacturers the opportunity to market our products worldwide. We can be globally active without having to modify our products to country-specific requirements.”
Heinz Helmut Kempkes, Managing Director, Helmut Kempkes GmbH KULI Hebezeuge

"The more we are in the position to develop international standards, thus reaching out to partners in the Far East, the better our access to growth markets will be."
Dr. Thomas Enders, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) (to 2007)