Standard-relevant publications: evidence, processes and influencing factors

This paper introduces the concept of standard-relevant publications, complementary to standard-essential patents and framed by the concept of knowledge utilization. By analyzing the reference lists of the around 20,000 standards released by ISO, authors of scientific papers cited in standards who are working at German institutions were identified. The institutions include universities, independent research societies, ministerial research institutes and companies. Almost thirty interviews were conducted with the most-cited of these authors. The interviews addressed the processes by which scientific publications come to be referenced in standards, and the motivations, the barriers and the effects of this. The findings demonstrate opportunities for and challenges to establishing standard-relevant publications as a new performance indicator for researchers, funding agencies, standard-setting organizations and ultimately regulators.