Standardisation will be a key factor in economic recovery, as well as a basis for the distribution of the "Next Generation EU" recovery package, which will invest 140,000 million euros in Spanish organisations over the next few years.
This is one of the main conclusions of the "Standards for Economic Recovery" meeting, organised by CEOE and UNE at CEOE headquarters, with the aim of analysing the impact of standardisation on the main areas dealt with in the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
During the event, which could be attended in person or followed live via streaming, Javier García, Director General of UNE, presented the report "UNE Standards for Economic Recovery", which analyses the vital role of standardisation in economic recovery. Standards bring economic benefits, accounting for 1% of Spanish GNP, and up to 5% of annual sales revenue for companies.
Among other advantages, standards support economic recovery in quality management, the ecological transition, digital transformation, innovation, cybersecurity, and effective corporate governance practices. It should be remembered that the dual transition (ecological and digital) is a priority area for European funds. Experts agree on the importance of standards, which give companies a framework to steer them through this period of uncertainty.
UNE's Chairman, Carlos Esteban, emphasised that "standards are practical guidelines for improving business competitiveness and promoting the safety of industrial processes, product manufacturing and corporate best practices." He highlighted that "Spain is a leader in the adoption of global standards, which will be a solid basis for successful economic recovery."
For Javier Calderón, CEOE Business and Organisation Director, Spain's global leadership in this regard "is not the result of chance, but that Spain has been successfully implementing systems to improve management systems for many years." Calderón also pointed out that correct standardisation is key to providing security to Spanish companies, "especially in the current context of uncertainty."
The round table was chaired by Paloma García, UNE Director of Standardisation and Stakeholder Groups, and guests included Óscar Querol, Director of the AFME Technical Department; Carlos Martínez, Managing Director of the PTEC and Director of Innovation, Quality, Environment and OHS at SEOPAN; Raúl Megía, Manager of Processes and Certifications at Telefónica; Iratxe Madariaga, Director of Management Systems at Ormazábal; Aniceto Zaragoza, Vice Chairman of the CEOE Industry Committee, and Luis Socías, Director of the CEOE European Projects Office.
The Meeting was closed by Galo Gutiérrez, General Director of Industry and SMEs of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism.
