Iberian Standardization Meeting

​​​​As part of the celebration of World Standards Day, more than 250 experts attended the Iberian Standardization Meeting held in Lisbon on October 28 in a hybrid format, organized by the Portuguese Institute for Quality (IPQ) in collaboration with the Spanish Association for Standardization, UNE. Following the welcome remarks by João Pimentel, President of IPQ, and Javier García, Director General of UNE, the institutional opening was led by the Portuguese Secretary of State for Economy, João Rui Ferreira. Under the theme: "Iberian Standardization: Partnerships for a Sustainable and Competitive Digital Market”, the event focused on the Digital Product Passport, a strategic European Union project that promotes traceability, circularity, and regulatory compliance throughout the product lifecycle. Oscar Nieto, Policy Officer (DG GROW) at the European Commission, addressed European regulations and the challenges arising from their implementation. Several members of the Spanish Committee CTN-UNE 333 on the Digital Product Passport shared their knowledge and practical experience in panel discussions. Notable Spanish speakers included Sergio Muñoz Gómez, Managing Director of BuildingSMART; Franco di Persio and Eva Roldán, Technology Transfer and Battery Innovation Managers at CIRCE Technology Centre; David Allo, Sustainability Manager at the Spanish Intertextile Council; and Héctor Viniegra, Business Development Manager for Circularity and Textile Sector Coordinator at TECNALIA. In addition, prior to the meeting, the Spanish delegation from UNE held a bilateral session with IPQ, during which they discussed topics of relevance to both organizations, such as the presentation of their strategies and priorities, the economic impact of standardization, and their positioning at European level in the context of the review of Regulation (EU) 1025/2012. The visit concluded with a tour of IPQ’s startup incubator, INOVA Quality Hub, and the Metrology Museum. Finally, UNE and IPQ affirmed their commitment to active collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding, symbolizing the excellent cooperative relationship between Spain and Portugal—two countries that share history, common European values, and a joint vision of the role standardization can play in economic progress, sustainability, and business competitiveness.​