ANI - National Agency for Innovation is the sectoral standardisation body of the Portuguese standardisation system (ONS.ANI), which coordinates and monitors the operation and activities of Technical Commission 169 (CT 169), created in 2007 by the National Standardisation Body (ONN - Organismo de Normalização Nacional) -  Instituto Português de Qualidade (IPQ).

Through CT 169, the ONS.ANI analyses existing standards in other countries within the scope of Research, Development and Innovation activities, expressing its vote for the standardisation activities developed by European and international authorities. On a national level, it assesses the clarity and coherence of standards, both in the creation and development of new Portuguese standards in its areas of operation and in updating already existing standards.

ANI is in constant collaboration with IPQ regarding voting activities, selection of experts for committees or inclusion/amendment of information necessary for the normative practice in the various platforms. It also manages and updates the archive on the IPQ Memento platform and preserves the documentation useful for the practice of sectoral standardisation. ONS.ANI monitors and approves CT 169's activity plan and reports to the ONN.

Technical Commission 169 develops standardisation activities within the scope of Research, Development and Innovation activities, in order to promote the participation, on a voluntary basis, of parties interested in these topics and to ensure a balanced representation of currently relevant scientific, technological and economic interests.

This technical body aims to ensure the preparation of documents and the issue of normative opinions, in accordance with the rules and procedures in force in the field of Portuguese standardisation and ensuring their alignment with the best international practices, as well as the production of Portuguese standards, highlighting NP 4456-2007 - Research, Development and Innovation Management - Terminology and activities definition, NP 4457:2007 and, more recently, NP 56002 - Innovation Management System - Guidance.

CT 169 participates actively in the work of Technical Commission 389 of the CEN - European Committee for Standardisation and with the different working groups of the ISO - International Organization for Standardization, namely through Technical Commission 279.

ANI's role is to manage, assist and monitor Technical Commission 169, chaired by Dr. Isabel Caetano, and notify IPQ of any information in order to ensure the regular functioning of the regulatory activity in these matters.

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