ISO 17021-16 Under Development

ISO has initiated actions to develop and publish ISO 17021-16 for the audit and certification of Innovation Management Systems (IMS), based on the ISO 56001:2024 Innovation Management System - Requirements. This will be the first edition of this audit and certification standard.

Innovation management is an important business area. Organizations compete based on price and differentiators, and innovation is one of the principal ways that organizations create differentiators. While still a young standard, ISO expects interest in innovation management to accelerate. As an example, all most all forms of artificial intelligence (AI) started as innovation initiatives.

The development of ISO 17021-16 is expected to be completed before mid-2027, and is jointly oversee by the ISO CASCO committee for conformity assessments and ISO Technical Committee 279 - Innovation Management. Once published, ISO certification bodies (CBs) worldwide will be able to apply for, and become authorized to perform ISO 56001 certification audits.

NOTE: Dallas N. Bishoff, the President of PROCESS 360, serves as the U.S. expert for the development of this standard. Given Dallas’ extension audit credentials, his voice and vision will drive this intiative towards a success outcome.