A recent independent report from the Centre for Economic and Business Research found that standards act as a catalyst for innovative activity. Standards facilitate innovation by reducing the time to market for new products, promoting the diffusion of innovative products, levelling the innovation playing field between big and small companies, and facilitating the inter-operability in network industries thus creating the environment for the development of new products. BSI and Innovate UK are therefore working together to create new standards earlier in the development of new technologies. By creating standards early in the emergence of new technologies, the UK can become the leader in these areas and gain 'first mover advantage'.
Work began in July 2013 to foster collaboration between BSI and Innovate UK. The goal was to accelerate development in four key areas – synthetic biology, cell therapies, offshore renewable energy (ORE) and independent living. For each of these areas, BSI has published a standards strategy document, drawing on input from researchers, innovative companies and other stakeholders.
The synthetic biology strategy outlines the role of standards in the digital representation of biological information
> Download The ascent of digital biomanufacturing - Executive summary
> Download The ascent of digital biomanufacturing - Full strategy document
The cell therapies strategy describes the role of standards in supporting good biological manufacturing practices
The offshore renewable energy strategy outlines the priorities for developing standards to reduce the cost of new offshore installations
> Download Offshore renewable energy standardization review - Executive summary
> Download Offshore renewable energy standardization review - Full strategy document
The assisted living strategy sets out the role of standards in enabling long term care to be provided in the home
> Download A framework for standards to support innovation in long term care - Executive summary
