Innovation and Technical Standards Life Cycles

Abstract

Since the innovation and standard are mutually interconnected, their life cycles are interconnected, too. When one process stops (e.g., innovation), the other starts (standardization). The innovation life cycle starts with an idea about an innovation, be it a goods, service, or process improvement or a completely new product. The innovation consists of four important parts: the exploration, also called identification part; the design of the invention; the standardization to final prototype; and the implementation. Technical standard life cycle is based on the procedures of recognized Standards Body. The most important part of it is a consensus, after which follows an approval of that Standards Body. The Standards Body can operate on national, transnational, or global level. The chapter discusses innovation and standardization life cycles for the three global (international) and the three transnational European standard bodies.