The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Association has launched a new Web site designed to provide broad access in Europe to technical standards created by the IEEE and other standards development organizations.
The site is www.standardseurope.net.
This multidimensional site supports those who want to learn about and obtain technical standards, especially in information technology, telecommunications, and power and energy. The site also serves the needs of IEEE-SA volunteers who help create standards, as well as its members, customers and international partners.
"Standards are key for world trade and help abolish technical barriers to trade for the benefit of industry and society at large," says Ingo Ruesch, former managing director of the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association. "The Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement of the World Trade Organization obliges all standards developing organizations to cooperate for the sake of avoiding duplicate work and competing standards."
Ruesch says the IEEE has signed a cooperative agreement with the International Electrotechnical Commission.
"For the European industry it is now of utmost importance to increase its engagement in IEEE standardization work because IEEE standards are used worldwide, especially in the information technology sector," says Ruesch. "StandardsEurope will help industry and all other interested parties in Europe to participate in the IEEE-SA's work."
Jerry Peterson, president of the IEEE Standards Association, says StandardsEurope is a major component in the IEEE-SA's ongoing globalization initiative.
"This Web portal adds value to and focus on the ongoing IEEE-SA cooperative work supporting international standardization development efforts of the IEC, the International Organization for Standardization and the International Telecommunication Union," says Peterson.
StandardsEurope, the third portal dedicated to supporting standards users and developers by geographic region, incorporates new features. These include a real-time news feed addressing developments in international and venture capital markets and StandardsWire, which provides timely announcements relevant to IEEE standards activities. It offers a direct log-in capability for customers of IEEE Standards Online and will soon offer an opt-in newsletter that will showcase news, events and profiles relevant to IEEE's activities in Europe.
The site offers those in companies, trade organizations, government bodies and academia in Europe such options as:
* The ability to learn about and join new IEEE standards efforts,
* Links to Web sites carrying international and regional finance and economic news relevant to standards,
* Links to IEEE "Standards Zones" to explore standards in specific technologies, such as wireless communications, microprocessors, transportation and power generation,
* Access to approved standards, either directly through the IEEE-SA or from third parties, and,
* Links to IEEE-SA's international standards partners, such as the International Electrotechnical Commission, International Organization for Standardization, and International Telecommunications Union.
The IEEE is based in New York City. For more information visit www.ieee.org.
