Measuring and Reducing the
Standardization Gap
Dr. Laura DeNardis,
Yale Law School
Nadi, Fiji, 17 September 2009
Presentation Agenda
Introduce project on
building standards
capacity in the
developing world
Describe the primary
standards gaps
confronting developing
countries
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Present case studies
of national
standards capability
Propose best practices
for national standards
capability
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Research Project
Building Standards Capacity
in the Developing World
Phase I: Variables and Questionnaire
• Select assessment variables and develop the Tool for
Assessing Standards Capability (TASC)
Phase II: Assessing National Standards Capacity
• Use questionnaire responses to identify gaps and
present national case studies
Phase III: Recommending Best Practices
• Recommend best practices for national standardization
capability
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Questionnaire
Tool for Assessing Standards Capability
Some Parameters
Qualitative
and
Quantitative
Regional
and
International
Standards
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Standards
Development, Scope Limited
Scope Not
Adoption,
to ICT
Limited to ITU
Regulation,
Standards
Standards
and Education
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Assessment Includes Four
Broad Categories
Standards
Development
Capacity
Standardization
Human
Resources
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Government
Standards
Policy
National
Standards Use
and Adoption
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Standards Development Capacity
Existence of a national ICT standards body and/or
standardization committee
Participation in international ICT standards development
processes (e.g. ITU, ISO, IEEE, IETF, W3C)
Participation in regional ICT standards development processes
Private industry involvement in ICT standards development
Adequacy of technical infrastructure to participate in ICT
standards development
Number of domestic standards/year; patent applications/year,
and number of ICT R&D organizations in country
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Standardization Human Resources
ICT standards courses/curricula in higher education
Availability of government-sponsored standards training
Other ICT standards body training in country in past year
ICT standards conferences held in country in past year
Access to electronic training courses and materials
Number of individuals engaged in domestic standardization;
number of standards experts.
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Government Standards Policy
Existence of national procedures for enacting standards
by government or standardization organization
Existence of a national ICT standards agency,
department, or advisory council
Existence of a national ICT standards strategy
Government laws, regulations and policies on ICT
standards
Government funding and investment in ICT
standardization
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National Standards Use and Adoption
Government interoperability framework or ICT
standards procurement policy
Adequacy of technical infrastructure for accessing
standards for those involved in implementing standards
National use of ITU Recommendations, either in product
procurement or development
Increasing development of technology products and
market share based on international ICT standards
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Additional Questions
Who are the key standards stakeholders in your country?
What could private industry do to improve national standards
capability?
What could international standards-setting institutions do to
better facilitate your nation’s international standards
participation?
What could the national government do to improve national
standards capability?
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Country Case Studies
Mongolia
Lebanon
Mali
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China
Thailand
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Mongolia
Standards Policy and Strategy
ICT standards policy and strategy is developed by the ICTPA of
Mongolia (Information, Communications, Technology and Post
Authority)
Government Standardization Agency
Mongolian Agency for Standardization and Metrology (MASM)
Government regulatory agency responsible for coordinating
and managing standardization
Reports to Deputy Prime Minister's office
MASM Council made up of government officials, academics,
research scientists, industry, and NGOs
The MASM’s 13th Technical Committee is for ICT
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Mongolia
Mongolian Agency for Standardization and Metrology
" The aim of MASM in standardization is to contribute to the
development of the Mongolian society, economy, industry
and trade by establishing standards on the basis of mutual
understanding and voluntary agreement between parties in
governmental authorities, industry and business, with
regard to consumers' rights, and in continuously developing
standardization activities aligned to the market system."
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Mongolia
Mongolian Agency for Standardization and Metrology
Main functions
Standardization (approves and publishes all Mongolian
standards)
Certification
Establishment of national measurement standards
Legal metrology
Accreditation
Training and consulting
International cooperation (and represents Mongolia in
international standardization)
5 departments; 2 offices
120 staff members
Local centers for standardization/metrology in 21 provinces
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Mongolia
MASM information about standards and standards organizations
http://www.estandard.mn/
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Mongolia
Laws Governing National Standards
Development, Adoption, and Promotion
The development, application and promotion of national
standards are set out in the Mongolian law on
"Standardization and Conformity Assessment"
Adopted in 2003
Defines legal grounds for standardization and conformity
assessment
Regulates relations between the government, citizens,
business entities and organizations involved in standardization
“The purpose of standardization is to protect public interest,
human health, the environment and security of the nation and
enhance the compatibility of products..”
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Mongolia
Country Self-Assessment on Standardization
Some Strengths
Strong national standards body
Strong Private industry involvement in standards development
Increasing number of national standards, usually based on
international standards
Mongolian law on Standardization and Conformity Assessment
Some Opportunities
Inadequate technical infrastructure for broader public
involvement
Not extensive educational opportunities in standardization
International standards bodies can increase standards training
and seminars
More government funding of ICT standards development and
processing
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China
Standardization Administration of China (SAC)
Standards organization, authorized by the State Council of China,
responsible for management, supervision, and overall coordination of
standardization in China
China Communications Standards Association (CCSA)
Established in 2002
Membership: corporations, universities, and other societies
Conducts standardization activities under the guidance of the
Ministry of Information Industry and other authorities
Promulgate laws, regulations and policies on standardization
Propose standards R&D projects; conduct compliance testing and
interoperability testing
Promote standards implementation through consultation/training
Domestic and international exchange cooperation in ICT standards
Undertake work related to standardization commissioned by the
authority, members of CCSA or other organizations.
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China
Standardization Human Resources
Thousands of individuals in standards development
• Primarily from industry, research, government, and academia
• Involved in regional ICT standards development processes
• Work on standards development in ITU, ISO, IEEE, IETF, W3C,
and other bodies.
Standards training
• Few standards courses in higher education
• Some government ICT standards training
• Many standards conferences held in country (e.g. ITU meetings
and workshops)
• CCSA provides electronic training materials
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China
Country Self-Assessment on Standardization
Some Strengths
• Strong national standards body (CCSA)
• Thousands of standards experts
• Significant participation in international ICT standards
development
• Multi-stakeholder participation (government, industry,
academia)
• Extensive regional ICT standards development
• National standards laws and national standards strategy
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China
Country Self-Assessment on Standardization
Some Opportunities
• Private industry should further increase involvement in standards
development and adoption in products and should work with
government to establish standards capability
• International institutions like the ITU should encourage greater
developing country involvement in standards development
(provide education, hold ITU meetings in developing countries,
engage experts from developing countries to work for ITU
Secretariat or SGs)
• Government is expected to establish more national standards
policies and increase funds to support standards development and
adoption
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Thailand
Country Self-Assessment on Standardization
Some Strengths
Use of ITU recommendations
National standards agencies in information technology and
telecommunications
Some participation in regional and international ICT standards
development processes
Some Opportunities
Need greater technical infrastructure to participate in ICT
standards development and adoption
Limited number of standards education and training
opportunities beyond ITU programs
Opportunities for ICT standards conferences in country
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Lebanon
Country Self-Assessment on Standardization
Some Strengths
Existence of a national standards body
Participation in international standards development
Education about standards, including in higher education courses
Some Opportunities
Need for standards awareness training
Opportunity for greater government standards funding
Need for an overall assessment of standards landscape
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Mali
Country Self-Assessment on Standardization
Some Strengths
Access to electronic training courses and materials
Some ICT standards information in higher education
Existence of a national ICT standards agency
Some Opportunities
No national standards body or committee
Private industry involvement in ICT standards development
Few standards experts in country
No government standards budget
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Primary Standards Gaps
Part 1
Government Understanding of Standards Importance
• Public officials, industry leadership, and other stakeholders lack an
understanding of the critical role of standards for innovation policy
and economic efficiency
Funding
• Inadequate funding of government standards agencies, personnel,
national standards bodies, workshop attendance
Human Resources
• Insufficient number of standards experts in government, industry,
and academia
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Primary Standards Gaps
Part 2
Private Industry Involvement
• Relatively less private industry participation and lower adoption rate
of standards in ICT products
International Participation
• Less involvement in international standards development processes
Education
• Insufficient number of conferences, government training workshops,
and standards courses in higher education
Technical Infrastructure
• Inadequate technical infrastructures for those involved in
implementing standards as well as for the public
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National Standards Capability Scale
National Standards
Strategy
Regional and
International
Participation in
Standards Development
Adoption of Standards in
Products and Services
Level 1:
Low
Standards
Capability
Level 2:
Level 3:
Basic
Intermediate
Standards
Standards
Capability
Capability
Level 4:
Advanced
Standards
Capability
Minimal Standards
Capability other than
Use of Products Based
on Standards
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Recommendations for Maximizing
National Standards Capacity
National ICT Standards Strategy
National Standards Advisory Council
National Standards Body
International Standards Participation
Regional Collaboration
National Framework for Standards
Adoption and Use
Standards Education Strategy
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Recommended Best Practices
National ICT Standards Strategy
• Conduct a national inventory of what is currently in place in terms
of policies, standards, agencies, and education
• Articulate a statement about the national importance of standards
as a critical ingredient to enabling economic innovation and global
access to knowledge
• Allocate a standards budget for federal involvement in
standardization, for standards education and events, and for any
subsidization of private industry participation in international and
domestic standardization involvement
• Describe government incentives for companies and other entities to
adopt standards within products and services (e.g. advantages in
procurement, tax breaks)
• Lay out the roles and responsibilities of national standards
institutions, entities, and agencies
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Recommended Best Practices
National Standards Advisory Council
• High-level standards advisory council of experts from industry,
academia, and non-governmental organizations to advise
government on federal standards strategy
National Standards Body
• Multi-stakeholder standards body made up of private industry,
government, academia, and civil society
• Recommend policies and regulations on national standardization
• Develop national standards
• Select international standards
• Promote the adoption of national standards
• Publish national standards on web site
• Provide strategy for the ICT infrastructure and tools for improving
national standards capacity
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Recommended Best Practices
National Framework for Standards Adoption and Use
• A blueprint for the adoption and use of standards within
government ICT infrastructures and more generally within the
country
International Standards Participation
• ITU sector members or associates
• Active participation in ITU study groups and workshops, including
contributing standards
• Hosting standards workshop or event in country
• Leadership positions in ITU study groups and governance
structures
• Strategic proposals for ITU study questions and work programs
• Participation in other ICT standards organizations (e.g. ISO, IEEE,
IETF, W3C)
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Recommended Best Practices
Regional Collaboration
• Participation in regional ICT standards development processes
• Regional relationships among national standards bodies, including
implementation advice, training, joint participation in international
standardization
• Particularly important for small and least developed countries
Standards Education Strategy
• Take advantage of already available training courses and
materials from the ITU
• Government-sponsored ICT standards training
• Host ICT standards conferences and workshops
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laura.denardis@yale.edu
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