Standards as a catalyst: how BSI and Innovate UK are empowering UK innovators to grow
The British Standards Institute (BSI) and Innovate UK are working collaboratively to bridge the gap between early-stage innovation and commercial success. Their partnership is helping ambitious, technology-led businesses use standards not just as a compliance tool, but as a launchpad for growth, credibility, and global reach.
Why standards matter for innovation
Standards help to reassure prospective customers that goods and services have value and will maintain their value. For instance, many consumer products will advertise that they were ‘tested and developed in accordance with XYZ standards’.
For many innovators, standards can seem like a box-ticking exercise—something to worry about later. But the BSI and Innovate UK are flipping that narrative. By embedding standards early in the development of technologies like synthetic biology, cell therapies, offshore renewable energy (ORE), and artificial intelligence (AI), they’re helping UK businesses gain a “first-mover advantage.”
This proactive approach means UK innovators can enter markets faster, build trust with users and investors, and shape the rules of the game.
Why innovators should take note
For innovators, the benefits of engaging with standards early are clear:
- Accelerated market entry: Standards offer proven pathways, helping innovators avoid costly mistakes and reach customers faster.
- Enhanced investor confidence: Adopting standards signals that a business is well-managed and investment-ready.
- Global market access: International standards reduce trade barriers, making it easier to expand into new markets.
- Trust and credibility: For disruptive technologies like AI, standards help build public trust and demonstrate reliability.
- Risk reduction: Standards help innovators identify and manage risks—from security to ethics—early in the development process.
- Influence the future: Innovators who engage in standards development help shape the future of their industries.
A strategic partnership with real impact
The collaboration between BSI and Innovate UK began with a focus on four key sectors. Today, it’s expanding to support a wide range of industries and emerging technologies. Together, they’re creating a supportive ecosystem where standards are not barriers, but enablers.
Here’s how the partnership works in practice:
- Early standards for emerging tech
The BSI and Innovate UK identify and develop standards for new technologies ahead of international competition. This gives UK businesses a head start in sectors where speed and credibility are critical. To ensure businesses can access the standards relevant to them, two key portals are available, British Standards Online (BSOL) and the Standards Development Portal. These platforms allow organisations to not only see but actively participate in the shaping of standards that influence their industries.
- Business growth toolkit
Innovate UK’s Business Growth Toolkit, developed with BSI, offers SMEs access to webinars, expert guidance, and training sessions. It helps innovators navigate operational and market-entry challenges with confidence. You can find a link to the training, e-learning, support, and insights here.
- Specialist guidance
Innovation and growth specialists at Innovate UK are trained by BSI to provide expert advice on standards. This ensures businesses receive tailored support from people who understand both innovation and regulation.
Alongside the dedicated support of BSI experts, the new and improved BSI microsite serves as a central hub for all key resources, relevant links, and recordings from past events.
- Innovation management
Through initiatives like BSI’s Innovation Day and the Innovation Management Society of the UK, the partnership promotes standards such as ISO 56001. These frameworks help businesses improve their innovation capabilities and scale sustainably.
Eventum orthopaedics: a case study in standards
Leeds-based Eventum Orthopaedics is a powerful example of what this partnership can achieve. With support from Innovate UK Business Growth, Eventum accessed the BSOL Standards Online facility and achieved ISO 13485 certification—a globally recognised standard for medical device quality and safety.
This milestone helped Eventum navigate complex regulatory landscapes, secure the UKCA Mark, and gain USA 510(k) clearance in late 2024. Their flagship product, Quadsense, is now successfully launched in both the UK and US—two critical markets for growth.
Looking ahead
As technologies evolve, so too must the frameworks that support them. By embedding standards into the heart of innovation, Innovate UK and the BSI are helping businesses grow, scale, and shape the future.
For SMEs and startups, the message is clear: standards aren’t just about compliance—they’re about opportunity.
If your business is ready to realise the benefits of standards, contact us today at infosw@iukbg.ukri.org