Standardization and Standards: Safeguards of Technological Sovereignty?

Abstract

Technological sovereignty has gained significant relevance for the geopolitical relations during the Covid-19 pandemic, initially triggered by the trade conflicts in particular between the U.S. and China and now even further fired by the Russian attack of the Ukraine. Consequently, policy measures have been discussed to achieve technological sovereignty. Despite the growing relevance of standardization, their opportunities have only to a limited extent been considered an effective policy instrument to secure or even achieve technological sovereignty. Based on a review of the literature, the mechanism of standardization and standards as safeguards for technological sovereignty are elaborated. We offer a list of propositions to be tested in future studies. Using mobile communication standardization to illustrate its specific characteristics including its development process, we elaborate on the effectiveness of the various safeguard mechanism. Finally, policy implications are derived for the various mechanisms. The paper ends with challenges for standardization and standards to achieve or assure technological sovereignty in the future geopolitical contexts.