 Standardising and certifying R&D and innovation |
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Quality standards are fundamental in a context where increasing importance is placed on certifying the processes in commercial and industrial activities.
AENOR have recently been working on standardising activities in the field of R&D and innovation and have published three standards in this area:
UNE/166000: 2002 EX: MANAGING R&D AND INNOVATION: TERMINOLOGY AND DEFINITIONS IN R&D AND INNOVATION ACTIVITIES
(AENOR also published the standard UNE 166004:2003 EX, Competence and assessment of R&D and innovation management system auditor assessment).
The first two certify all the components that make up an R&D and innovation project whose content, budgets and execution have been standardised.
The third certifies the R&D and innovation project management process, by ensuring process systematization.
ADVANTAGES:
The benefits that come from certifying R&D and innovation projects, as described by AENOR, include the following:
Helps managers to establish the suitability of investing in R&D and innovation projects.
* Acts as a guarantee before all the third parties that interact in the marketplace in relation to the R&D and innovation project.
* Minimises the risks associated with the project by setting up control mechanisms.
* Simplifies information analysis so that future decisions can be made on the same subject.
* Optimisation of organisations' internal know-how.
* Assists in technological monitoring to identify opportunities for improvement.
* Shows governmental bodies that the organisation has transparency in these activities, thus easing access to public finance.
PROCEDURE:
When R&D and innovation projects are being certified, these are the milestones in the certification process:
1) Sending the application and documentation
2) Processing the application and documentation analysis
3) The conformity report
4) The selection of an external expert
5) Project assessment and the issuance of a technical report
6) The issuance of a certification proposal report
7) Annual follow-up audits, until project ends
The certification processes for R&D and innovation management systems comprise the following stages:
1) Application for certification
2) Documentation analysis
3) Pre-visit
4) R&D and innovation management system audit
5) Corrective action plan (where there is non-conformity)
6) Assessment and decision
7) Issuance of the certification
8) Annual monitoring audits
9) Renewal audit in the third year
USEFUL ADDRESSES: