Jesus Rodriguez Molina
This document specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving a circular economy management system that an organization can use to enhance its circularity performance. The document is intended for use by an organization seeking to integrate circular economy as a strategic priority. The circular economy management system will support the organization to use a systemic approach to contribute to the maintenance of a circular flow of resources in society by recovering, retaining or adding to their value, while contributing to sustainable development. The requirements set out in this document is generic and will provide value for the society, the environment, the organization itself and interested parties. The document will support an organisation to understand how its value network (e.g. suppliers and customers) will be affected by decisions taken by the organisation and give organizations within the value network a system of interconnected and interdependent decisions and activities. Consistent with the organization's policy for a circular economy, the expected results of a circular economy management system include: • enhancement of the circularity performance. • a system for compliance obligations. • a system for achievement of environmental, social, and economic objectives. • increased long-term value creation. This document is applicable to any organization seeking to understand and commit or contribute to a circular economy. These organizations can be either private or public, acting individually or collectively, regardless of type or size, and located in any jurisdiction, or position within a specific value chain or value network. This document can be used in whole or in part to systematically improve management towards circularity. Claims of conformity to this International Standard, however, are not acceptable unless all its requirements are incorporated into an organization's management system and fulfilled without exclusion.
ISO 59004 is a part of the ISO 59000 family of standards, specifically designed to foster a shift towards a circular economy. This standard provides comprehensive guidance applicable to any type of organization. It includes defining key terms and concepts, outlining a vision for a circular economy, elucidating core principles, and offering practical guidance for actionable steps towards sustainability. The standard aims to support organizations in contributing to the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development by facilitating a transition to a circular use of resources.
This project will specify the governance model for DAOs regarding three facets; IN CHAIN FACET: infrastructure level, where DAO membership requires an entity to only run a node of the DLT network (e.g. join a permissioned DLT network). ON CHAIN FACET: transaction and smart contract level, where DAO membership requires an entity to interact with a specific smart contract, or send specific transactions (e.g. register with a particular smart contract). OFF CHAIN FACET: non DLT system level, where DAO membership requires an entity to perform additional non-DLT activities (e.g. protect data privacy). The three facets can be used individually or as a blend in any variation for completeness as the minimum governance.This project will specify the governance model for DAOs regarding three facets; IN CHAIN FACET: infrastructure level, where DAO membership requires an entity to only run a node of the DLT network (e.g. join a permissioned DLT network). ON CHAIN FACET: transaction and smart contract level, where DAO membership requires an entity to interact with a specific smart contract, or send specific transactions (e.g. register with a particular smart contract). OFF CHAIN FACET: non DLT system level, where DAO membership requires an entity to perform additional non-DLT activities (e.g. protect data privacy). The three facets can be used individually or as a blend in any variation for completeness as the minimum governance.
CEN/TC251 Health Informatics is a standards delivery organisation, meaning that it approves standards in Europe, but the standards do not have to be created in Europe. In fact, many of them come from the global health informatics committee ISO/TC215. For this reason, it is important to monitor and contribute to the standards prepared in ISO/TC215. This is what the purpose of this fellowship was about.
ISO/TC215 has around 10 working groups (WGs) and CEN/TC251 has two. I am the convener of the second one and I try to follow those ISO/TC215 WGs that operate within the scope of my WG in CEN/TC251. This is not always easy because the ISO/TC215 WG meetings take place at the same time. In ISO/TC215 I participate mainly in interoperability, information security, and health software development areas.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is coming to healthcare, too. As I have AI experience through my doctoral studies and projects that followed, it has been natural for me to follow AI standardisation, too. The ISO/TC215 meeting in Toronto in October 2025 made it clear that the number of AI related work items is increasing in ISO/TC215. ISO/TC215 has a joint working group 3 (JWG3) with JTC1/SC42 Artificial Intelligence. The idea is that the ISO/TC215 AI work items are developed in this JWG3. Attendance in JWG3 is important also because I am a member of the CEN Strategic Advisory Group on AI in healthcare.
During the ISO/TC215 Toronto meetings in October 2025, SC42 held its meetings in Sydney, Australia. After the working day was over in Toronto, work began in Sydney in Toronto evening time. I participated in particularly the healthcare AI standards development JWG3 and SC42/WG4 Use Cases meetings virtually in Sydney. Attendance in JWG3 meetings was important to motivate the ISO/TC215 initiated standardisation projects to the SC42 leadership. Through my participation, the other parties became more aware of European values in AI standardisation.
Standardisation in the field of Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies is imperative to promote interoperability, security, and innovation across European markets. The rapid evolution of these technologies has led to a fragmented landscape of standards globally. This fragmentation presents challenges such as hindered cross-border data flow and increased compliance burdens on European businesses. My activity aims to address these critical gaps by actively participating in the creation of comprehensive, internationally recognized standards.
My engagement in the Joint ISO/TC 307 - ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 27 WG directly supports this action. By actively participating in WG, I am bolstering Europe's representation and influence in shaping global standards in this transformative domain.
From a European perspective, this activity is pivotal. Europe seeks to not only embrace but lead in the adoption and implementation of Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies. By participating in the development of standards, we ensure that Europe's interests, values, and priorities are ingrained in the foundation of these technologies. This is paramount for bolstering Europe's digital sovereignty, fostering innovation, and ensuring that European businesses remain competitive on the global stage.
This fellowship supports my role as a convener of ISO TCC307 WG3. The priority is to organise the appropriate ballots and meetings to allow the experts to discuss and reach a consensus based on the comments received for the projects in ISO TC 307 WG3. Another priority is to complete the norms with the attendance list and verify that all experts in the meeting were duly registered in the portal and authorised to participate in the meetings.
One of the main challenges of this work has been overcoming the cultural barriers and language differences encountered during this period, particularly through various meetings and ad hoc meetings for the three projects, which are ongoing in preparation for the final stage to publication.