ISO 56001:2024 is the first internationally certifiable standard for managing innovation systematically. We guide your organisation from the initial gap assessment through to the certification audit with an accredited body.
ISO 56001:2024, published in September 2024 by the International Organization for Standardization, sets out the requirements for establishing, maintaining and improving an Innovation Management System (IMS). It is the first standard in its family to adopt the High-Level Structure (Annex SL), making it fully integrable with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 or ISO 27001 without duplicating effort. Its adoption as a European standard (EN ISO 56001) requires national standards bodies to publish it locally; in Spain it has been available as UNE-EN ISO 56001:2024 since December 2024.
The standard supersedes the Spanish UNE 166002:2021, which served as the reference for R&D&I management certification for over a decade. Organisations already certified under UNE 166002 were required to migrate by 1 June 2026, the date on which ENAC (the Spanish National Accreditation Body) ceased to accredit under the previous scheme. More than 90% of the requirements are compatible between both standards, so migration is straightforward for organisations that already have a system in place. For those starting from scratch, ISO 56001 provides a clear entry point recognised worldwide.
Managing innovation through a certified system has a direct business impact: it compels leadership to define innovation objectives aligned with strategy, allocate resources deliberately and measure real results. This replaces ad hoc innovation — costly and unpredictable — with a repeatable process. In addition, ISO 56001 certification strengthens credibility with corporate clients, public procurement processes and funding calls such as those from CDTI, Horizon Europe or R&D&I tax incentives (Article 35 of the Corporate Income Tax Act in Spain).
We analyse the organisation's context, ongoing innovation initiatives and the gap against the standard's requirements. We identify which processes, roles and documentation already exist and which need to be created. The assessment delivers a gap report with clear priorities.
We define the innovation policy, measurable objectives, initiative portfolio and the key IMS processes: opportunity identification, concept development, validation and business transfer. We integrate the system with any existing management certifications to avoid duplication.
We support teams in the real roll-out of the system: first review meetings, initiative logging, use of indicators and monitoring tools. We train innovation leaders and the executive team in the normative requirements and in the innovation culture demanded by the standard.
We conduct the preliminary internal audit, identify non-conformities and correct them before the certification audit. We manage the relationship with the chosen accredited certification body (AENOR, Bureau Veritas, SGS or another at the client's choice). The certificate is issued by the accredited third party; we ensure you arrive fully prepared.
The operational detail: what we deliver as part of the work and what we keep alive afterwards.
Gap analysis report
Detailed analysis of the current situation against ISO 56001:2024 requirements, including a gap map and prioritised roadmap.
Innovation policy and objectives
Drafting of the corporate innovation policy, KPI dashboard and annual objectives aligned with the strategic plan.
IMS manual and procedures
System documentation: innovation portfolio management processes, initiative selection criteria, project templates and lessons-learned register.
Internal training programme
Training sessions for leadership, innovation leads and technical teams, tailored to the baseline level of each organisation.
ISO 56001 internal audit
Full internal audit in accordance with ISO 19011, with a non-conformity report, corrective actions and evidence ready for the certifier.
Certification body coordination
Management of the relationship with the chosen accredited certifier: request for quotation, certification audit scheduling and response to external auditor findings.
Innovation managed under ISO 56001 is amplified when combined with artificial intelligence governance (ISO 42001), strategic regulatory compliance and the technology tools that make it scalable.
If your innovation incorporates AI systems, ISO 42001 establishes the responsible management framework that complements the IMS of ISO 56001.
View service → consultoríaThe innovation policy of ISO 56001 must be anchored in corporate strategy; Summum Consultoría supports that strategic direction process.
View service → iaWorkflow automation frees internal capacity to be dedicated to the innovation initiatives registered in the IMS.
View service →UNE 166002:2021 was a Spanish standard with national scope, recognised primarily in Spain for certifying R&D&I management systems. ISO 56001:2024 is an international standard adopted by more than 160 countries, with a High-Level Structure compatible with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, and a broader scope: not just technological R&D&I, but any type of innovation (business model, organisational, process, etc.). Organisations certified under UNE 166002 were required to migrate by 1 June 2026.
For an organisation starting from scratch, the typical process takes between 6 and 10 months. If an R&D&I management system (UNE 166002) or documented innovation culture already exists, the timeline can be reduced to 4–6 months. The duration depends mainly on the complexity of the innovation portfolio, the team size and the availability of leadership to validate documentation.
No. Summum Calidad is a consultancy, not a certification body. We guide your organisation throughout the entire implementation process and prepare the system for the certification audit. The certificate is issued by a body accredited by ENAC (such as AENOR, Bureau Veritas, SGS or others). This separation of roles guarantees the objectivity of the certificate.
Having a certified IMS under ISO 56001 facilitates the documentation of projects eligible for R&D&I tax deductions (Article 35 of the Spanish Corporate Income Tax Act) and for grants from bodies such as CDTI or the Horizon Europe programme of the European Union. It is also a valued criterion in public procurement with an innovation component and in Next Generation EU funding calls.
Yes, and this is one of its key advantages. ISO 56001 shares the High-Level Structure (HLS) with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 27001, meaning the chapters on context, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation and improvement are equivalent. Integration avoids duplicating procedures, audits and documentation.