As part of OPENTUNITY, our partner UNE has been actively engaging with key standardization committees. The goal is to establish connections that can foster collaboration in standardization efforts relevant to the project’s scope. Here, we outline our progress and focus areas.

Initial Engagement with Committees

Initially, we identified eight technical committees for a first round of contact. The main objective of this outreach was to introduce the OPENTUNITY project and create a communication channel for potential contributions to standardization or liaison opportunities.

We provided them with a brief summary of the project, covering aspects such as Work Packages, Pilot sites, Use Cases, and Innovations, while also inviting their interest and feedback. So far, four technical committees have responded positively with varying levels of interest:

• CEN & CENELEC Focus Group on Data, Dataspaces, Cloud, and Edge
• COG-SG
• CLC TC 13
• CLC TC 57

Currently, we are focusing on potential collaboration with these committees as well as two newly established Joint Technical Committees:

• JTC 24: Digital Product Passport – Framework and System.
• JTC 25: Data Management, Dataspaces, Cloud, and Edge (DDCE) (which replaces the previous focus group).

These committees are working on crucial aspects relevant to OPENTUNITY, making them valuable partners in our standardization efforts.

The Digital Product Passport (DPP)

One key area of standardization involves the Digital Product Passport (DPP), a digital identity card for products, components, and materials. The DPP aims to enhance product sustainability, promote circularity, and ensure regulatory compliance. It will contain essential information accessible electronically, such as: user manuals, materials used, environmental impact assessments and recycling instructions.

As part of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), many products sold in the EU will be required to have a DPP. Other regulations, including those for batteries and construction products, also consider the DPP as a critical element.

To support the implementation of the DPP, the European Commission (EC) has issued a Standardization Request to CEN & CENELEC for the development of eight European standards, expected to be published before 2026. These standards will focus on the IT infrastructure necessary for DPP functionality rather than the specific data it will contain, which will be determined through future delegated acts.

European Trusted Data Framework and Dataspaces

Another crucial area of our standardization efforts is dataspaces. The EC has launched a Standardization Request for a European Trusted Data Framework, which is expected to result in the development of eight new standards. Our team is closely monitoring and engaging in these standardization activities to ensure OPENTUNITY aligns with and contributes to the evolving regulatory landscape.

Conclusion

Through our engagement with key standardization committees and active participation in critical regulatory developments, OPENTUNITY is positioning itself at the forefront of emerging standards in digital identity, sustainability, and data management. We will continue to foster collaborations and contribute to the evolving framework for a more interconnected and standardized digital ecosystem.