Digital standards increasingly shape how digital markets function, how public services are delivered, and how innovation scales across borders. From digital identification and payment systems to data exchange and cybersecurity, standards form the technical foundations of the digital economy. The World Development Report 2025 highlights that these standards are not neutral: they embed choices about interoperability, competition, and governance. 

At the same time, the report points to a persistent participation gap. Low- and middle-income countries remain underrepresented in international digital standardisation, particularly in fast-moving ICT domains. Limited participation often means adopting standards developed elsewhere, with little influence over how they reflect local market realities, regulatory priorities, or institutional capacity. In the digital domain, this gap can translate into technological lock-in and reduced policy space. 

Participation in international standardisation is therefore a strategic issue. Decisions taken in technical committees today shape future digital infrastructures and markets. Where countries are absent, they effectively accept rules they did not help shape. 

European and international standardisation organisations support more inclusive participation. CEN, CENELEC and ETSI, as well as European National Standards Bodies, contribute to international standardisation and cooperate closely with ISO and IEC. Beyond developing standards, they bring experience in consensus-based processes and in linking standards with research, innovation, and regulation. 

As reflected in the CEN–CENELEC discussion on standardisation and science diplomacy, standards provide a practical, rules-based platform for technical cooperation and trust across borders. Capacity-building and peer exchange are essential to lower barriers to participation and enable countries to move from standards adoption towards informed engagement. 

Initiatives such as InDiCo-Global support this transition, helping to close the digital standards gap and promote more inclusive, interoperable, and development-oriented digital ecosystems.