convenor

The contribution impacts European SMEs and/or European societies and decision-makers on a high level by developing technical standards in DLT/Blockchain that reflect European democratic values including.
- E-Privacy: EU Artificial Intelligence Act, new Data Act, GDPR
- Fintech and Def: MiCA crypto
- Sustainable initiatives: carbon markets, smart energy
- Interoperable platforms: EBSI, digital product passports
Moreover, I see two major impacts with SMEs. Firstly, international standards enable faster technical adoption for SMEs, as ISO standards provide ‘templates’ of technical systems and guidelines, that provide a baseline for SMEs to build their own solutions that are interoperable and lower risk for potential partners/investors.
Secondly, SME are involved in standards development: The use case methodology in ISO/TC 307 WG6 is based on active outreach to SMEs who are pioneering new DLT capabilities. They provide contributions to the standards through ISO/TC 307 WG6 and ongoing external business events.

Despite the fact that 95% of industries are composed of SMEs, there is a significant underrepresentation of this organisation's viewpoint on standards development. I am the liaison officer of the Small Business Standards in all the TCs at ISO. I contribute to giving a voice to European SMEs in standardisation at the European and international levels. In addition, to provide comments in the meetings I promote the use of the compatibility test of the SBS and collaborate in the workshops to facilitate the mutual understanding among the industry and the SDOs.

Harmonised cybersecurity standards for AI systems need to be developed and adopted, as a matter of urgency, for the benefit of the European industry, including SMEs and startups, as well as users and consumers. In this context, it is necessary to demonstrate the trustworthiness of AI systems. Cybersecurity is one of the many aspects of trustworthiness.

The AI Act highlights the importance of EU harmonised standards and conformity assessment (based on such harmonised standards) for industrial stakeholders (providers and deployers) and also for users of AI systems. Harmonised cybersecurity standards for AI systems need to be developed and adopted as a matter of urgency, for the benefit of the European industry, including SMEs and startups, as well as users of AI systems. In this context, it is necessary to demonstrate the trustworthiness of AI systems. Cybersecurity is just one of the many aspects of trustworthiness.
A balanced representation of interests involving all relevant stakeholders in the development of standards, contributions from SMEs, consumer organisations and environmental and social stakeholders are therefore welcome. FM Tech Consult BV is a Belgium-based SME.

The AI Act highlights the importance of EU harmonised standards and conformity assessment for the industrial stakeholders, for both providers and deployers, as well as users of AI systems. European harmonised cybersecurity standards for AI systems need to be developed and adopted, as a matter of urgency, for the benefit of the European industry, including SMEs and startups, as well as users of AI systems. It is important to demonstrate the trustworthiness of AI systems. Cybersecurity is just one of the aspects of trustworthiness.

This project clarifies for SMEs when they use standards related to trustworthiness characteristics, as conformity assessment for those characteristics will be done for defined domains and operating conditions.

The future JTC21 harmonized standards will impact every organisations involved in highrisk AI systems and willing to put their product on the EU market. Those future harmonised standards aim also at protecting health, safety and fundamental rights and have therefore an impact on European societies.