- Thus, the number of responsibilities of Spanish experts in the technical and governing bodies of international and European standardisation bodies increased from 140 to 149, for the benefit of the Spanish productive fabric. These include the vice-presidency of ISO, a position which is held by the Director General of UNE, Javier García. In addition, UNE became a permanent member of the CEN and CENELEC Boards of Directors.
- 87.3% of the catalogue of Spanish standards are of European or international origin, according to data in the 2022 Annual Report. This global dimension facilitates exports and access to international markets of Spanish companies.
- Technical standards are strategic tools to achieve success in the economic growth: They account for 1% of Spanish GDP and other European countries, according to several studies. They also represent up to 5% of income from sales in the companies where they are applied, according to an ISO study.
- 2022 was the first year of the application of the UNE 2025 Strategy, with a positive result. Its objective is to help society and Spain's economic sectors deal with their greatest challenges, in areas such as the double ecological and digital transition.
Madrid, 31 May 2023 - The Spanish Association for Standardization, UNE, today held its General Assembly, at which it presented its 2022 Annual Report, which highlights the main activities developed by the Entity during the last exercise; and the UNE Standardisation Awards 2023 were presented. The Deputy Director General of Industrial Quality and Safety at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, José Manuel Prieto, closed the Assembly, attended by a hundred representatives from the Spanish economic sectors, Public Administrations and other relevant entities.
Chief Executive Officer of UNE and vice-president of ISO Javier García highlighted that: "2022 has been a key year in which we have laid the foundations for building the future of Spanish standardisation. The UNE 2025 Strategy has been backed by the publication of the European Commission's European Standardisation Strategy Without a doubt, first-rate political support that places standardisation as an indispensable tool to promote and strengthen a resilient, ecological and digital single market in the European Union."
In this regard, technical standards are strategic tools to achieve success in the economic growth: They account for 1% of Spanish GDP and other European countries, according to several studies. They also represent up to 5% of income from sales in the companies where they are applied, according to an ISO study.
During the Assembly, it was highlighted that Spanish standardisation increased its influence and reputation worldwide in 2022, for the benefit of competitiveness in the Spanish productive fabric and for the promotion of the Spanish Brand. Thus, the number of responsibilities of Spanish experts in the technical and governing bodies of international and European standardisation bodies increased from 140 to 149. These include the vice-presidency of ISO, a position which is held by the Director General of UNE, Javier García.
Moreover, in 2022 UNE joined the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) as a full member to support the digital transformation of the Spanish business fabric and became a full member of the Boards of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC).
The great Spanish reputation is also demonstrated by the fact that more and more Spanish standards serve as the basis for developing global or European standards in cross-cutting areas such as sustainability, digitisation, cybersecurity and compliance and in vertical sectors such as industrial security, renewable energies and tourism, among others.
87.3% of the catalogue of Spanish standards are of European or international origin, according to data in the 2022 Annual Report. This global dimension facilitates exports and access to international markets of Spanish companies.
UNE 2025 strategy
The UNE 2025 Strategy, which was launched in 2022 and whose results have been positive, has as a priority to help society and the Spanish economic sectors to successfully overcome their major challenges through standards, in areas such as the dual ecological and digital transition, making Spain, a more resilient country or accelerating access to the market for the results of innovation projects, among other things.
UNE. Shared Progress
Another milestone last year was the renewal of the UNE brand, which materialised in a new identity inspired by the dialogue and collaboration space that facilitates standardisation and its global role. It aims to bring standardisation closer to society by making the benefits it provides visible not only to the Spanish business and industrial fabric and UNE members, but also to citizens in their daily lives. To make them known, the institutional video "UNE. Progreso Compado" was prepared.
Standards based on ESG criteria
Faithful to its commitment to contributing to building a safe, sustainable and competitive world, in 2022 standards, reports and projects were developed that contribute solutions to the environmental, social and governance challenges of organisations. These include the publication of the UNE-ISO standard with the guidelines for net zero emissions, the Good Governance of Organisations report, the reactivation of the UNE Committee on Gender Equality and the publication of the UNE-ISO 37000 Standard Guidance for the Governance of organisations.
Financial benefits
UNE standards are a pillar of the economy. They account for 1% of Spanish GDP and other European countries, according to several studies. According to an ISO study, they also represent up to 5% of companies' income from sales and reduce business costs by 7%. The UNE Standards report for economic recovery impacts this key role.
As for the number of members, 21 new members have joined, reaching a total figure of 532, which represents practically all of the Spanish productive fabric. These include relevant national sector associations, Public administrations, universities, renowned organisations, companies and professionals.
New Board of Directors
In December 2022, all of UNE's Governing Boards were updated, including the Board of Directors, which is now made up of 71 members representing almost all Spanish economic sectors and several public administrations, in a successful model of public-private collaboration based on dialogue and consensus. The new Board of Directors will enrich UNE's contribution to society due to its great diversity of members in terms of their sector of origin, professional profile, experience, gender, age, and so on.
Alfredo Berges (Managing Director of ANFALUM), was appointed as the new Chairman and Luis Rodulfo (President of CEPCO) was elected Vice-Chair.
A model of public-private collaboration.
UNE is a model example of public-private collaboration. It currently has 17 collaboration agreements with the Public Administrations with the aim of supporting them in the efficient deployment of public policies and regulations through standards. One of these agreements is the one signed with SEGITTUR last year to promote smart tourist destinations through standardisation.
A milestone for the Association must also be highlighted from last year. Act 17/2022 on Science, Technology and Innovation includes the connection between the development of standards, research and innovation. This legislation identifies standardisation as one of the knowledge transfer channels from R&D&i activities, which can be evaluated for the purposes of remuneration of research staff, which the public financiers of the Spanish science, technology and innovation system must promote. This is the first time that Spanish legislation recognises this key role in standardisation.
View the 2022 UNE Annual Report here.
