1. Measuring and Reducing the Standardization Gap
Dr. Laura DeNardis,
Yale Law School
Nadi, Fiji, 17 September 2009

2. Presentation Agenda
Introduce project on building standards capacity in the developing world
Present case studies
of national
standards capability
Describe the primary standards gaps confronting developing countries
Propose best practices for national standards capability
Nadi, Fiji, 17 September 2009

3. 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
Nadi, Fiji, 17 September 2009

4. Questionnaire Tool for Assessing Standards Capability
Some Parameters
Qualitative and Quantitative
and International Standards
Regional
Standards Development, Adoption, Regulation, and Education
Scope Limited to ICT Standards
Scope Not Limited to ITU Standards
Nadi, Fiji,17 September 2009

5. Assessment Includes Four Broad Categories
Standards Development Capacity
Standardization Human Resources
Government Standards Policy
National Standards Use and Adoption
Nadi, Fiji,17 September 2009

6. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

7. 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.
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

8. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

9. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

10. Who are the key standards stakeholders in your country?
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?
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

11. Country Case Studies Mongolia China Lebanon Thailand Mali
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

12. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

13. 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."
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

14. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

15. Mongolia MASM information about standards and standards organizations http://www.estandard.mn/
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

16. 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..”
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

17. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

18. 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.
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

19. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

20. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

21. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

22. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

23. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

24. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

25. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

26. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

27. National Standards Capability Scale
National Standards Strategy
Regional and International Participation in Standards Development
Adoption of Standards in Products and Services
Minimal Standards Capability other than Use of Products Based on Standards
Level 1:
Low Standards Capability
Level 2:
Basic Standards Capability
Level 3:
Intermediate Standards Capability
Level 4:
Advanced Standards Capability

28. 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

29. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

30. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

31. 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)
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

32. 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
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009

33. THANK YOU!
Nadi, Fiji, September 2009