Enhancing R&D&i through standardization and certification: the case of the Spanish construction industry

Abstract

The advance of a community is often measured by its investment in Research, Development and Innovation (R&D&i). Western economies assume the need to investigate new techniques, materials and processes to improve the efficiency and sustainability of each productive task. Standardization and certification of R&D&i projects and management systems become suitable tools to optimize results, considering the international policy to encourage R&D&i activities. Therefore, companies seek to verify to the public administration the final destiny of the resources to R&D&i activities, obtaining fiscal advantages through the overall process. Even though construction is a highly significant industry in developed and developing economies, construction companies invest little in R&D&i compared to other sectors. The link between standardization and innovation remains a significant knowledge gap in the construction management field. In this paper, the international state of affairs regarding standardization and certification of R&D&i activities is described, highlighting the innovative characteristics of the Spanish standards UNE 166000. The results of an analysis of the Spanish construction industry, regarding standardization and certification, are also presented and discussed. This new set of standards could be a reference for other countries, always working jointly with the families ISO 9000 and 14000.