TS EN ISO 56000

TS EN ISO 56000 is the vocabulary standard for innovation management and the baseline reference for the fundamental concepts used in this field. It helps organisations describe how they plan, enable and improve innovation using a common language, so teams across sectors and sizes can discuss the same ideas consistently.

Core ideas in innovation management

Innovation management is broader than new product development. In general technical context, it also includes innovation in services, processes, business models and methods, as well as different forms ranging from incremental change to radical and disruptive innovation. The standard frames these ideas conceptually and recognises multiple approaches such as internal and open innovation, and user-, market-, design- and technology-driven innovation activities. That common framing helps align terms such as policy, objectives, capabilities, opportunities and outcomes.

A shared vocabulary for different organisations

The standard is intentionally generic and is applicable across organisation types, sectors, maturity levels and sizes. This makes it useful as a common terminology base for comparing, documenting and discussing innovation practices in varied settings, from small enterprises to large enterprises and public or private organisations. In wider practice, a shared vocabulary supports clearer communication about innovation systems, processes and performance, and reduces ambiguity when defining management frameworks.