International cooperation projects

InDiCo-Global is a consortium led by ETSI, CEN, CENELEC, Trust-IT, Martel Innovate and COMMpla. The project is a Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action (CSA), aiming to build bridges between technical communities and policymakers globally, on topics related to digital policies and ICT/Digital standardisation, and foster awareness of the European Standardisation System.

The project objectives are to:

• Foster awareness of the European Standardisation System (ESS) and its deliverables in the context of ICT/Digital standardisation and how they support global acceptance and interoperability
• Promote EU policies and standards (already developed or in the making) for select ICT/digital technologies and develop cooperation around them
• Develop a sound understanding of policy, regulatory, standardisation landscape of partner countries/regions
• Create and leverage opportunities for capacity building with partner countries/regions

The project focuses on key technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, 5G and Beyond, Internet of Things (IoT) and Security Aspects, Cybersecurity, Data, eID (Electronic Identification), Smart Cities, Quantum Technologies, Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT), and Circular Economy.

Within the European Standardisation System Workshop, the project has organised 2 workshops in Cairo in collaboration with AFESC; and in the Caribbean in collaboration with CROSQ. With other activities related to the range of technology focuses on the India Mobile Congress, participation in Futurecom in São Paulo, a study visits in Campinas, and many more.

Through its 40% of its €2.5 million budget to Capacity Building initiatives through a series of open calls for micro-projects focused on the targeted regions. Already 10 projects have been funded:

• Enhancing Digital Government in Guatemala through European Standards
• Use of AI systems in online content moderation, review and remedies in EU and in OHADA regions
• Accessiblity Standards/EAA in Africa
• Fostering data protection and responsible IA compliance in Bolivia
• Bridging the Gap Between European and Mexican ICT Standards in Open Data
• High Impact Workshops for Knowledge Exchange Between Chile and Europe on Standardisation Initiatives
• SAREF4ALL
• Artificial Intelligence, Landscaping analyses/studies in India, Southeast Asia and the Eastern Partnership
• Developing Guidelines on Common Denominators for Security Levels of Digital Identity Wallets
• Understanding EU Climate Fintech: Legal and Regulatory Perspectives

As of January 2026, a second round of 8 projects has started:

• ICT Standardisation Education in India
• Empowering the Western Balkans: upskilling on AI Act and GDPR
• Driving Digital and Sustainable Transformation in Montenegro through ICT and BIM Standards
• Promoting green digitalisation: sharing EU ICT product standardisation and policy insights
• Supporting CARICOM’s Digital Trade Readiness: EU Digital Product Passport and Beyond
• Strengthening CIAI/Inmetro as Brazil’s Hub for Trustworthy AI Aligned with European Standards
• Promoting EU ICT Standards Adoption in ASEAN
• Equipping Dominican Republic Cities to use European standards in their Digital Maturity journey

Started in 2024 with a total duration of 36 months, InDiCo-Global is nearing completion. Yet new activities are still to come with collaboration with regulatory institutions, research and SDOs, the project engages with all targeted regions to foster common understanding and bring global advocating for global acceptance and interoperability.

More detailed information on InDiCo-Global Project can be found here.

India is another major economic interest for shaping new markets and creating new opportunities for trade and investment for Europe.

The three European Standards Organisations (ESOs: CEN, CENELEC and ETSI) have therefore appointed a Seconded European Standardization Expert in India (SESEI).

This project was launched in 2013 and is co-financed by the European Commission, the European Free Trade Association and the ESOs.

The SESEI project promotes EU-India cooperation on standards and related policies and regulation.

The objective is to:

• enhance the visibility of European standardisation activities
• increase cooperation between Indian and European standardisation bodies
• support European companies facing standardisation-related issues which hamper market access to India

Led by ETSI on behalf of the project partners and with a team on ground at ETSI’s Liaison Office in New Delhi, SESEI provides direct insight into Indian standardisation programmes, help reduce technical barriers to trade, promote the adoption of European standards, and support the competitiveness of European businesses in India. The current expert, Dinesh Chand Sharma, is based in the European Business and Technology Centre in New Delhi. He acts as a bridge-builder between the European and Indian standardisation communities.

Key achievements include:

• Local Presence: SESEI expert in India; database of 3,000+ contacts, engagement with ministries, administrations, standards stakeholders and industry.
• Structural Cooperation: MoUs with BIF, COAI, and agreements with TSDSI & BIS; study visits for BIS officials in EU/EFTA, etc.
• Information Flow: Monthly Newsletters, Sectorial Reports, Thematic Webinars, Presentations on 5G/6G, AI, IoT, Smart Cities, Clean & Green Tech (more than 160 participations to EU-INDIA conferences promoting EU-India cooperation on standardisation since March 2023).
• Standards Adoption: Indian SDOs adopting ETSI standards: 3GPP, oneM2M, NFV, IoT, Energy Efficiency, ESI (Digital Signature), Accessibility standards, etc.

Learn more about the key results

For more information about the project, please see the SESEI website

Major economic, political and social changes around the world are shaping new markets. This creates new opportunities for trade and investment for Europe.

The three European Standards Organisations (CEN, CENELEC and ETSI) have therefore appointed a Seconded European Standardization Expert in China (SESEC).

This project was created in 2006 and is co-financed by the European Commission.

The overall objective of the project is to represent the interests of the European standardisation community in China. SESEC aims to increase cooperation between Europe and China in standardisation-related matters. The project focuses mainly on standardisation developments in China at the provincial level.

Specific objectives include:

• Promoting European and international standards in China
• Improving contacts with different levels of Chinese administration, industry and standardisation bodies
• Improving the visibility and understanding of the European standardisation system in China
• Gathering regulatory and standardisation intelligence

The current Expert, Dr Betty Xu, is based in Beijing.

For more information about the project, please see the SESEC website