90 Years Austrian Standards Institute
Together with partners and customers from the fields of economy, science and administration, the “Austrian Standards Institute” celebrated its 90-year success story.
Vienna (AS prm, 2010-05-26)
In the morning of 26 May 2010, numerous guests from the economy, policy-making and administration participated in the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Austrian Standards Institute (ASI).
- Univ.Prof. DDr. Walter Barfuß
Successful standardisation is a success for society
As Univ.Prof. DDr. Walter Barfuss, President of the Austrian Standards Institute, stated in his opening address, 90 years of Austrian Standards are an extraordinary success story “for Austrian Standards, but also for the economy, administration, science and consumers.”
After all, the success of standardisation was a success for society. During the past 90 years, standardisation had changed again and again and adjusted to the needs of its “customers”.
The trust in the impartiality and independence of the Austrian Standards Institute “has always been a strength, a timeless fundamental value retained over decades that also has to be maintained in the future,” said Barfuss.
- Univ.Prof. Dr. Rudolf Taschner
Prof. Taschner: “Information providers like ASI add value to information”
The value of information documented in standards was illustrated by Univ.Prof. Dr. Rudolf Taschner in his speech on “The strategic value of information”. This award-winning mathematician who teaches at the Institute for Analysis and Scientific Computing of the Technical University of Vienna covered a broad range from information theory and game theory to today’s standardisation.
He stressed the competence of information providers and its impact on the relevance and value of information. Only institutions like the Austrian Standards Institute that had supplied important and accurate information for 90 years would turn them into “invaluable information”, summarised the well-known scientist.
Recognition of exemplary commitment
During the event, the Austrian Standards Institute presented awards to persons who are role models by their outstanding commitment to standard-related initiatives.
The award winners are:
Bmstr. Dipl.-Ing. Walter Ruck (President of the Vienna Construction Trade Organisation) and
Dipl.-Ing. Erich Kern (member of the Executive Committee of the Chamber of Architects and Consulting Engineers for Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland) for the project “Mein NormenPaket” (My standards package);
- Bmstr. Dipl.-Ing. Walter Ruck & Dipl.-Ing. Erich Kern
Martin Denison (SSI Österreich ScubaSchools Tauchausbildung GmbH) for the standards series on recreational diving initiated by him – see www.euf-certification.org; and
- Martin Denison
MinR Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Günter Breyer and Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Eva Maria Eichinger-Vill (Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology) for their initiative and promotion of the internet platform www.eurocode.at.
- Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Eva Maria Eichinger-Vill & MinR Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Günter Breyer
- The award winners
Credit: ASI, Peter Tuma – reprinting free of charge
- Dr. Christian Weinberger
EU expert Weinberger Austrian standardisation is among the front runners
Dr. Christian Weinberger, who is responsible for entrepreneurship and SME policy at the Enterprise and Industry DG of the European Commission, stressed the great importance of participation in and access to standardisation and standards for small and medium-sized enterprises.
“The Austrian Standards Institute is among the front runners with regard to the involvement of SMEs and their expertise in practical standardisation work,” said Weinberger.
Facts on Austrian Standards
On 23 September 1920, the founding meeting of the “Austrian Standards Committee for Industry and Commerce” (Österreichischer Normenausschuss für Industrie und Gewerbe — Ö.N.I.G.) took place in Vienna. Via ÖNA (Österreichischer Normenausschuss — Austrian Standards Committee) and ON (Österreichisches Normungsinstitut — Austrian Standards Institute), a continuous and dynamic development lead to today’s ASI. Read more in the Milestones.
Today, the Austrian Standards Institute offers comprehensive services for the development of standards and regulations. Through innovative and customer-oriented solutions, its subsidiary Austrian Standards plus GmbH provides access to standards, facilitates their application and is the partner of the economy and administration, scientists and consumers for certification as well as education and training.
