VDE dialog: DKE has been responsible for electrotechnical standardization since 1970. What has changed since then – especially with regard to globalization and worldwide trade?
Florian Spiteller: A great deal – and at the same time not much. After all, electrical engineering has always been internationally oriented. This distinguishes it from other areas such as construction or infrastructure, where many things are more national in character. A brick or a manhole cover does not necessarily have to be internationally standardized! Our standards, on the other hand, are aimed at global application from the outset because power grids, plug connections and electronic interfaces have to function across national borders.
So was there never a primarily national phase of electrotechnical standardization?
Yes, of course. But for that, you have to go back to the early days of electrotechnical standardization – to 1895, when VDE published the first safety regulations for electrical appliances. By the time DKE was founded and the company became a member of the international standards organization IEC, it had already become clear that the aim was not to go it alone nationally, but to harmonize internationally. What has changed in recent decades, however, are the topics we deal with and perhaps also the innovation cycle: the speed at which new topics are introduced. Standardization also used to be purely technical. These days it’s more political – and naturally not everyone likes that.
In what way?
Standardization is of course fundamentally a very good thing for people: it makes products safer. It ensures that I can sell and use my product all over the world. It reduces bureaucracy, enables secure investments and free trade – and thereby also reduces corruption. But it's also become an instrument of power. And that has definitely changed. It's not without reason that they say “Those who have the standard have the market”. This means that if I succeed in incorporating my national requirements into an international standard, my companies automatically have a competitive advantage. Conversely, it also means that national standards can seal off markets and make them difficult for others to access.
So you're saying standards have become an important trade policy instrument?
That’s right, and at a very difficult time; on the one hand, we have China, a very powerful, up-and-coming country that, as we know, does not always embody our values, so issues such as AI standardization are indeed a challenge. And on the other hand, a country like the USA, whose president is currently completely shaking up global trade policy. We stand in between, not as Germany, which would be far too small on its own, but as Europe, in order to form at best a counterbalance in this regard.
Are you therefore relying on European standards?
No! A standard that only applies in Europe is of no use to most German companies, especially those in the electrical engineering sector. After all, even many of our small and medium-sized companies serve not only the European market, but the global market. If we were to focus only on Europe in terms of standardization, we could develop standards that correspond to our values, but this would not be sufficient for Germany as a globally oriented export nation. That’s why we benefit enormously if there is a global standard. Because otherwise, our companies would have to adapt their products for each individual country, and at best our large companies could per haps afford that, but certainly not all our small hidden champions.
How many of the standards that apply here are now international standards?
In electrical engineering, 85 percent of all European standards are based on the corresponding international standards. Only 15 percent are purely European or national standards. These figures also show how internationally oriented electrotechnical standardization is and how well cooperation between European and international standardization works. We call the mechanism for this the “Frankfurt Agreement”.
How does international standardization work in practice?
DKE is the German member of CENELEC (European standardization), IEC (international standardization) and ETSI (telecommunications). We see ourselves as a platform that bundles German interests and feeds them into international processes. Companies, associations, authorities, consumers – everyone who is affected can get involved. This creates a consensus-based position at national level, which we then represent in international bodies. In concrete terms, we always start by asking the IEC and its member countries whether they are interested in a standard. If they are, it is developed worldwide and then generally adopted by the European standards organizations.
And how is this consensus achieved?
We work with something we call mirror committees; if there is an international committee, we form a German counterpart. This is where the relevant players – companies, research, administration – discuss and define the national perspective. Those who then work internationally do not represent the opinion of their company, but the jointly agreed German point of view.
How many experts are involved?
We are grateful to have over 10,000 experts in DKE. Many are active in our German mirror committees, 500 at European level and 1,250 at international level. Most of them come from industry and contribute their expertise as part of their regular work – on a voluntary basis, but with a high level of commitment.
Are these international committees now organized purely digitally or do they actually travel around the world?
Both. The IEC’s Technical Committees often meet in different countries – sometimes in Shanghai, then in Paris or Berlin. CENELEC is based in Brussels, the IEC in Geneva, but the actual work happens everywhere. Germany regularly organizes its own international meetings, often with 20 to 30 countries in attendance. Personal exchange is central to this – standardization is “people’s business”. Our job as DKE is not to write the standards themselves, but to organize the process for their creation. In doing so, we ensure that compliance guidelines are adhered to. After all, we are bringing competitors together in one room, and that has to follow certain rules.
That almost sounds like diplomacy.
It is. In a global body with 25 or more countries, you need a delicate touch. A conversation over dinner is often more effective than five hours of video conferencing. You have to form alliances, build networks, find compromises, weigh up interests – and create trust. That’s why personal contact is so important.
So classic lobbying is also part of it?
If you like. However, I prefer to use the term “representing interests” because lobbying in Germany often has something disreputable about it. In addition, we are “non-profit” and do not represent individual interests, but rather we promote a system that benefits everyone in electrical engineering – safer products, fewer trade barriers, fair conditions of competition. Standardization is not an end in itself, but an instrument for making technology compatible and safe worldwide.
To facilitate this, you have now opened your own office in China – the second DKE location abroad in addition to your office in Brussels. Why there in particular?
Yes, we have just opened a small office in the IEC International Standards Promotion Center in Nanjing. It is our declared aim to promote international standards there. After all, if we can, through training or lectures, help Chinese companies to recognize the benefits of international standards and actively participate in them, and if China remains part of the international trading system, we will have done something good for our stakeholders. Because we must not forget that, with over 1.4 billion people, it would be possible for China to set up a completely separate standardization system and seal off their market from the rest of the world. That would be a disaster for us. And all it would take is the threat of trouble from the West.
You mean Donald Trump. To what extent does he pose a threat to international standardization?
We cannot yet assess that conclusively. Already during Donald Trump’s first term in office, something had changed, especially in terms of interpersonal relationships and dealings with one another. On balance, however, it was not a turnaround. This time, of course, the fear is that he is much better prepared and will do more damage overall. However, four years – and we are assuming that it will stay that way – is a manageable period of time in the world of standardization. And apart from that, the standardization community is also very broadly based. In the IEC, each country has only one vote, regardless of its size. This means that, while the USA is important, it's only one of many players.
How does DKE position itself in this field of tension between different players?
We always see ourselves as a neutral platform that moderates processes and represents German interests in a global context. To this end, we work closely with ministries, industry associations and international partners. For example, as part of the “Global Project Quality Infrastructure” (GPQI) of the Federal Ministry of Economics, with countries such as Brazil, India, China and Mexico. The aim is to promote international standardization and a uniform quality infrastructure. After all, if these countries adopt international standards, German electrical engineering companies can also sell their products there without having to make any major adjustments. Standardization thus becomes an enabler for free trade.
What’s next for DKE?
Something big! In 2026, we will be hosting the 110th General Meeting of the IEC – with over 3,500 participants from around 100 countries. This is a great opportunity for us and at the same time a responsibility. Germany can present itself as a host, set topics and further strengthen international networks.
Florian Spiteller is Head of External Relations & Support at DKE (German Commission for Electrical Engineering) and a member of the management board. In this function, he coordinates DKE’s international relations with standardization organizations such as IEC, CENELEC and ETSI and represents German interests in global electrotechnical standardization.
