2026-04-01 VDE dialog

“With neutrality and patience”

Wolfgang Niedenzu earns his living at Siemens, but his accolades come primarily from his volunteer work in standardization.

You have been volunteering in DKE standardization work for many years. What is your personal motivation?

Wolfgang Niedenzu: From the very beginning, I have been driven by the protection of human life. For me, this is not an abstract issue but something very concrete that concerns life and safety.

Standards often seem dry to outsiders. What still makes standardization work appealing to you?

Reading a standard is indeed not exactly exciting. What is interesting, however, is the process behind it. You discuss, argue, contribute expertise, and work together to find viable solutions. The goal is not the lowest common denominator, but a technically sound and practical solution that as many stakeholders as possible can support. This process thrives on exchange – and that is what truly makes it enjoyable.

You also serve as a volunteer secretary for the European (CENELEC) and international (IEC) standardization organizations. What exactly does your role involve?

In addition to organizational tasks, my main responsibility is moderating collaboration. When there are differing views, I try to bring them together and facilitate consensus. This requires neutrality, patience, and a willingness to take all arguments seriously.

Participants at the IEC General Meeting 2025 in Delhi

The standardization community meets every year at the IEC General Meeting – here in Delhi in 2025, and in Hamburg in 2026.

| IEC

Consensus-building sounds positive, but in view of ever-shorter innovation cycles it is under increasing time pressure. How can the two be reconciled?

What is often misunderstood is that consensus does not mean unanimity. The key point is that there is no longer any substantial objection. Different instruments are available for this – from rapidly developed specifications to long-term safety standards. Safety-critical topics require time to mature, while other areas must respond more quickly. The art lies in choosing the appropriate procedure and handling it responsibly. It is also clear, however, that the speed of our standardization processes remains open to discussion and certainly offers room for improvement. Not least for this reason, I am looking forward to the IEC General Meeting, which will take place in Germany this year (editor’s note: November 14–20, 2026, Hamburg), where this issue will certainly be addressed.

What is particularly important to you for the future of standardization work?

It is important to me that technical standardization remains technical and is not overshadowed by political interests. Every expert voice should be heard equally, regardless of a country’s origin or size. This is precisely where the strength of international standardization lies. Once a consensus is reached, it is globally viable – and that is exactly what makes this volunteer work so meaningful.

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