In order to ensure continuous economic growth, it is not enough to create new knowledge through research and innovation, but this knowledge should be effectively disseminated and efficiently used by the economy and enterprises. As it turns out, standardization and standards based on consensus and participation of stakeholders, are the best way to disseminate and utilize the knowledge produced.
Standardization and standards provide significant benefits to businesses and industry and offer a significant competitive advantage for SMEs. They create equal conditions for competition, allow access to cutting-edge technology, enhance the ability for innovation and contribute to more efficient resource management.
The European Organizations for Standardization, CEN and CENELEC, provide information, tools and support to explain the benefits of standards, the way to use them and how to participate in the standards development process (https://www.cencenelec.eu/sme/Pages/default.aspx).
In particular, an electronic training tool on standardization, standards and benefits for the SMEs has been developed by the European Organizations for Standardization in collaboration with SBS (Small Business Standards), also available in Greek at http://www.standards-esme.eu.
In 2016, NQIS/ELOT, in the framework of the Coordinating Council of Industrial and Business Policy - Industry Forum, participated actively in the Working Group "Industry and Innovation" and submitted a detailed study entitled "Standardization and standards as a means of supporting Entrepreneurship, Research & Innovation and Competitiveness” giving particular emphasis on SMEs. The study is available here.
In 2018, ELOT co-organized the GSEVEE - SBS Conference "Standards and Small Enterprises: challenges and opportunities". More information is available here (http://www.elot.gr/1411_ELL_HTML.aspx).
In 2019, aiming to the wider dissemination of standards referred in regulatory provisions, NQIS/ELOT provided a significant discount for the collections of standards about Building Fire Protection Regulation (http://www.elot.gr/1448_ELL_HTML.aspx).