Standardisation expertise is one of the most consequential — and most underused — assets in European research and innovation. The mission of HSbooster.eu is to change that, and with the launch of its second edition, the project has just opened a call for experienced standardisation professionals to join its External Pool of Experts (EPE) and provide direct consultancy support to nationally and EU-funded R&I projects working to translate their results into standards.
An opportunity to contribute — and to connect
For standardisation experts, this is a significant opportunity. Selected EPEs will work directly with R&I projects, bringing their knowledge to bear where it matters most. The work is remunerated, and beyond the financial dimension, joining the EPE means becoming part of a strategic European network of standardisation stakeholders with direct visibility to the European Commission.
Bridging the gap between research and standards
The need for this kind of structured expert support is real and well-documented. Many R&I projects set out with standardisation ambitions — a task, a deliverable, a milestone pointing towards a technical committee or working group — yet find that actually navigating those processes is far more demanding than anticipated. The path from research result to published standard involves procedural knowledge, institutional relationships and strategic timing that most project teams simply do not have in-house. HSbooster.eu II addresses this directly, connecting projects with practitioners who have worked inside National Standards Bodies, European Standards Organisations and International Standards Development Organisations, and who know how those processes actually function.
Why it matters for Europe
The significance of this work extends beyond individual projects. The EU Strategy on Standardisation has placed European leadership in technical standard-setting at the centre of industrial and digital policy. Standards underpin the single market, enable the green and digital transitions, and increasingly determine who sets the rules in emerging technology sectors globally. When R&I results fail to find their way into standardisation processes, Europe loses ground — not just in specific technical domains, but in its broader capacity to shape international norms. HSbooster.eu II exists to close that gap systematically, and at scale.
A broad agenda, a wide call
Selected experts will contribute to Mentoring, Accelerator and Proposal Support Services across a broad range of topic areas including Health, Resilience, Sustainable Digitalisation, the Green Transition, Smart Cities and Circular Economy in Buildings, and Single Market and Product Safety and Compliance. The diversity of topics reflects both the ambition of the EU standardisation agenda and the breadth of expertise HSbooster.eu II is seeking to bring into its network.
Apply now
The call is open now. Experts interested in applying should register at hsbooster.eu/epe/register and submit their application via sop.hsbooster.eu. Delivery of services will begin after July 2026.
