Brussels, 15 October 2010

A further step towards SMEs involvement and integration in the standardization process: CEN-CENELEC launches new web portal to help SMEs work with standards and achieve a greater benefit for them.

Standards work for SMEs
SMEs represent more than 99% of all European business and they constitute the true backbone of Europe’s economy. Standardization contributes to enhance SMEs key role in the market, but most of the time standards added value is not well-known by small businesses. Therefore, in the last years, CEN and CENELEC decided to tackle this problem and increased their efforts targeting SMEs and their participation in the standardization work. To address this, the new CEN-CENELEC SME webportal will better guide and respond to SMEs questions on standardization.

http://sme.cencenelec.eu
The SME web portal will provide European SMEs with the business tools required to access the European Standardization System of CEN and CENELEC through:
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Information on new standardization initiatives
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Information on standardization work in the pipeline
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First-line advice through consultation of appropriate experts via e-mail
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Updated brochures and material relevant to SMEs
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Training for SMEs which wish to understand more and contribute to European standardization
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Conferences and events of interest to SMEs

Find us on Twitter
CEN-CENELEC enters the social network with a twitter page dedicated to SMEs and Standards. Join us and get first hand information on standardization activities for SMEs.

Media Contacts:
CEN and CENELEC Celine Oeyen Manager Communication Tel.: +32 2 519 68 85 E-mail: coeyen@cencenelec.eu