Overview - EN ISO 56000:2025 (Innovation management - Fundamentals and vocabulary)
EN ISO 56000:2025 establishes the fundamental concepts, principles and vocabulary for innovation management. Adopted by CEN in January 2025, this second edition replaces EN ISO 56000:2021. The standard provides a coherent, common framework to understand innovation-related terms and to underpin an effective innovation management system (IMS) across all types of organizations, sectors and innovation forms - from incremental improvements to radical or disruptive innovations.
Key topics and technical focus
- Terms and definitions: comprehensive vocabulary covering innovation, organization, knowledge, intellectual property, performance, assessment, and innovation initiatives (Clause 3).
- Fundamental concepts: what innovation is, attributes of innovation, activities and processes that drive innovation, and interaction across organizations (Clause 4.2).
- Innovation management principles: guidance on principles such as realization of value, future-focused leadership, strategic direction, culture, exploiting insights, managing uncertainty, adaptability and a systems approach (Clause 4.3).
- Relationship to other management systems: alignment and integration considerations with existing organizational management systems.
- Applicability: designed for all organization sizes, maturity levels and types of innovation (products, services, processes, models, methods) and approaches (internal, open, user- or technology-driven).
Practical applications - who uses EN ISO 56000:2025
- Organizations establishing or improving an innovation management system to enhance competitiveness, resilience and sustainable development.
- Senior leaders and strategy teams using the glossary and principles to align innovation with strategic objectives.
- R&D, product development, design and open-innovation teams standardizing terminology and practices across internal and external partners.
- Auditors, assessors, consultants and trainers providing evaluation, education or certification related to innovation capabilities.
- Customers, investors and stakeholders seeking confidence in an organization’s innovation practices and communication.
Benefits and outcomes
- Common vocabulary for clearer communication across departments, partners and supply chains.
- A principles-based foundation to design, implement and continually improve innovation activities.
- Improved ability to manage uncertainty, exploit insights and align innovation with strategic value creation.
Related standards
- ISO 56001 - requirements for establishing, implementing and improving an innovation management system.
- ISO 56002 - guidance for implementing and maintaining an IMS, especially for established organizations.
- ISO 56003 - guidance for planning and engaging in external innovation partnerships.
EN ISO 56000:2025 is intended to be used in conjunction with these standards to create a complete innovation management framework.
Keywords: EN ISO 56000:2025, innovation management, fundamentals and vocabulary, innovation management system, ISO 56001, ISO 56002, innovation principles.
