InDiCo-Global has selected eight projects funded through its Second Open Call, bringing the total number of funded initiatives to nineteen since the project launched in January 2024. The new cohort spans six regions — the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, the Western Balkans, India, and Brazil — and addresses some of the most pressing challenges in international ICT standardisation today, from AI governance and data protection to green digitalisation, smart cities, and the EU’s emerging Digital Product Passport framework.

The Second Open Call invited organisations from EU Member States and from InDiCo-Global’s target regions to develop targeted capacity-building initiatives, knowledge-exchange activities, and practical engagement with European ICT and digital standards. Projects were assessed by an independent pool of external evaluators and selected on the basis of their relevance, quality, and potential for impact.

The Second Open Call Cohort

The eight selected projects reflect the breadth of InDiCo-Global’s target regions and the diversity of challenges that European ICT standards can help address. Covering topics from AI governance and data protection to green digitalisation, smart cities, and digital trade readiness, the cohort brings together organisations from across the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, the Western Balkans, India, and Brazil. Below is an overview of each project.

Supporting CARICOM’s Digital Trade Readiness: EU Digital Product Passport and Beyond

The CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) is leading the CARICOM Digital Trade Readiness (DTR) Project — the first coordinated regional initiative focused on the EU’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) and its wider digital product ecosystem, including data governance, electronic identification (e-ID), consumer Internet of Things (IoT), and trust services. With Caribbean exporters, particularly MSMEs, increasingly engaged in EU trade, the project will equip public and private stakeholders across the region with the information needed to respond proactively to this emerging regulatory framework. Through a study visit to Europe, a regional webinar series, and targeted knowledge products, it will provide practical opportunities for exporters, regulators, and quality infrastructure institutions to deepen their understanding of European standards.

Equipping Dominican Republic Cities to Use European Standards in Their Digital Maturity Journey

Open and Agile Smart Cities (OASC) is working with 3–5 cities in the Dominican Republic to support their digital maturity journey using the European LORDIMAS city digital maturity assessment tool and the ITU Smart and Sustainable City Maturity Model. The project promotes data protection approaches aligned with GDPR principles and Open Data practices, building on European experience. Its ultimate aim is to establish a sustainable smart city hub linked to OASC and U4SSC, enabling lasting connections between smart cities in the Dominican Republic and the standardisation programme covered in the Rolling Plan for ICT Standardisation.

Promoting Green Digitalisation: Sharing EU ICT Product Standardisation and Policy Insights

The Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS) is implementing a green digitalisation project in Kenya, focused on increasing awareness of the environmental implications of the ICT value chain and facilitating knowledge exchange between Europe and Africa. Topics include digital transformation, e-waste management, ecodesign, energy labelling, voluntary sustainability standards, and green public procurement. The project promotes an inclusive and multi-stakeholder approach to standardisation and technical policymaking in the African region, with opportunities to create replicability and synergy for broader continental collaboration.

Empowering the Western Balkans: Upskilling on the AI Act and GDPR

The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) is addressing capacity-building needs in the Western Balkans through a practical training programme on two landmark EU digital regulations: the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA). Through a practical booklet and a two-day training programme for regional stakeholders, the project contributes to more consistent application of EU digital rules, stronger digital governance, and enhanced protection of citizens’ rights — supporting the region’s continued progress toward EU integration.

Driving Digital and Sustainable Transformation in Montenegro through ICT and BIM Standards

The Institute for Standardisation of Montenegro (ISME) is strengthening Montenegro’s capacity to implement European ICT and digital standards in the construction sector, with a focus on Building Information Modelling (BIM), cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Activities include training for engineers and public service employees, stakeholder workshops, awareness-raising conferences, development of professional guides, and technical study visits to European standardisation bodies. Expected results include a national pool of trained BIM trainers, recommendations for improving ISME’s IT system for interoperability with CEN-CENELEC and ETSI platforms, and strengthened cooperation among ISME, academia, SMEs, and government institutions.

Promoting EU ICT Standards Adoption in ASEAN

OpenNexus Consulting Pte Ltd is strengthening ASEAN governments’ and regulators’ capacity to adopt key European ICT and AI standards. Through five in-person and virtual workshops, the project builds expertise on the EU AI framework — including risk classification, governance models, and conformity assessment — while promoting alignment with the European e-Competence Framework. Key outcomes include an EU–ASEAN AI Standards Toolkit, a Digital Skills Alignment Guide, targeted policy briefs, and an ASEAN Standards Champions Network to support sustained regional cooperation on AI governance and ICT interoperability.

Project details for the six featured winners are now available on our website. Details for two further projects — led by Fraunhofer ISI (India) and the Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia — Inmetro (Brazil) — will be announced shortly.