A Stepping Stone for Austria’s Economy
Vienna (AS prm, 2011-07-13)
Austrian Standards: A Stepping Stone for Austria’s Economy
At today’s press conference held by Austrian Standards, the Austrian competence centre for standards, at the Sofitel in Vienna, President Univ.Prof. DDr. Walter Barfuss, Managing Director Ing. Dr. Gerhard Hartmann and Deputy Managing Director DDr. Elisabeth Stampfl-Blaha informed about the importance of standards as a stepping stone for the Austrian economy as well as about internal news and innovative high-tech solutions all around standards.
“Those who themselves do not set standards, will have to accept standards set by others,” Walter Barfuss succinctly explained the reason why Austrian companies should make an even greater contribution in order to actively shape European and international standardization projects.
Standards simplify everyday life and stimulate the economy
“Standards are like a traffic code for everyday life and business. They are not developed in an ivory tower, but directly address the needs of their users,” stated Univ.Prof. DDr. Walter Barfuss, President of Austrian Standards. If the framework conditions change, new or adapted standards are needed.
Standards also pay from a macroeconomic perspective: They contribute around EUR 2.4 billion or one percent to Austria’s gross domestic product and approximately 25 percent to economic growth.
Recognizing challenges — using standardization as a business opportunity
According to Walter Barfuss, the challenges and, at the same time, opportunities faced by Austrian companies are globalization, technology convergence and the expansion of the service sector. “I call upon Austrian companies not to hesitate to take part in standardization work. There is no point in complaining about standards drawn up by others! Companies who use standardization as a strategic corporate policy lay the foundation for their presence in the markets of the future,” emphasized Walter Barfuss.
From an association standardizing industrial products to an international service provider
Just as standards change, Austrian Standards, founded in 1920, developed from the former association standardizing industrial products, such as screws and machinery, into an international service provider. Walter Barfuss stated, for example, that experts did not participate in European and international technical committees to satisfy personal vanities, but rather made Austria a much appreciated partner at the international level in spite of the country’s small size.
Since November 2010, Austrian Standards also has a new cross-sectoral Presidential Council, functioning as a think tank that makes it possible to identify needs beyond the confines of one’s own industry and to offer standards as a solution.
Flood of standards is a myth
“It is true that the number of standards quadrupled in the past 20 years, but against the backdrop of the economic and technological developments that have followed an exponential growth path, there can be no talk of a ‘flood of standards,’“ explained Ing. Dr. Gerhard Hartmann, Managing Director of Austrian Standards.
Out of the 2,129 standards developed by a total of 183 technical committees managed by Austrian Standards last year, more than half constituted revisions adapting standards to changed framework conditions. Moreover, one new standard frequently replaced several old ones. Additional standards were created in those fields shaped by a changed environment, such as the IT industry and healthcare.
Austria as a “global player”
The importance of a good positioning in international competition was stressed by DDr. Elisabeth Stampfl-Blaha, Deputy Managing Director of Austrian Standards. While standardization work used to be almost exclusively shaped by “good old Europe”, the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries are gaining ground. For example, China increased its participation in bodies of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) by 30 percent in the past five years and, as a result, now ranks before France, Japan and the USA
“Austria can still achieve very much,” stated Ms Stampfl-Blaha. European and international standards that bear a distinct “Austrian mark” include standards for recreational divers and diving centres, für call centres, translation services and (currently in preparation) a European standard on aesthetic surgery.
The opportunity of participating in European and international standardization activities and, hence, shaping the economic framework is opened up by Austrian Standards: Through Austrian Standards, Austria is represented in 81 percent of European (CEN) and 86 percent of international (ISO) committees.
Austria as a partner in modernizing Russia
A fact demonstrating the leading role of Austria in international standardization activities in spite of the country’s small size: In May 2011, Austrian Standards was represented in a high-level business delegation accompanying the Austria’s President Dr. Heinz Fischer during his visit to Moscow where modernization partnerships were signed by the two countries. Elisabeth Stampfl-Blaha stated: “It is obvious that standards and access to standards play a significant role in this context.” Quality and reliability are a strong argument in favour of Austrian Standards.
Co-operation is to be further promoted at the „Austria:Russia Conference“ organized by Austrian Standards from 2 to 4 November 2011. At the same time, the conference „20 Years Vienna Agreement“ will be held to present successes and discuss the further development of the agreement on co-operation between CEN and ISO that was signed at Austrian Standards in 1991 to prevent duplication in the development of European and international standards.
About Austrian Standards
Austrian Standards stands for the Austrian Standards Institute and Austrian Standards plus GmbH. The Austrian Standards Institute provides a platform for the development of generally accepted standards.
This know-how is made accessible through publications, training and further services by Austrian Standards plus.
Austrian Standards employs 122 persons and generated a turnover of around EUR 14 million in 2010.
It is funded by 88 percent from own revenues, while 12 percent are contributed by the public and private sector.
