ISO 56001:2024 is the first international certification standard for an Innovation Management System (IMS). It ensures your innovation operates with governance, KPIs, and risk-based thinking so that ideas turn into measurable value with reduced risk and time-to-market. Q-CERT assesses IMSs against PDCA, governance, portfolio management, pilots/PoC, and experimentation time, leveraging the Annex SL structure for easy integration with ISO 9001/14001/27001/45001.

ISO 56001 certification boosts credibility, fundability, and your ESG profile, demonstrating that your innovation is systematic, repeatable, and sustainable. With specialized auditors, Q-CERT provides auditing and certification services with annual surveillances and a three-year cycle. 

What ISO 56001 covers and applicability 

ISO 56001:2024 sets requirements to establish, implement, maintain, and improve an Innovation Management System (IMS). It applies to SMEs, large enterprises, and public or private sector organizations across all industries (manufacturing, services, technology, health, food). The standard introduces a structured approach to discovering, selecting, developing, and scaling ideas, linking them to strategy, risks, and performance targets.

It benefits R&D, Product/IT, Operations, and Marketing teams seeking clear governance, KPIs, and portfolio prioritization. For organizations with ESG and financing needs, certification evidences mature processes and accountability. ISO 56001 works horizontally: whether you’re upgrading an existing innovation capability or starting out, it offers a common language and criteria for value creation. 

Core IMS principles: PDCA & risk-based thinking 

The IMS is built on the PDCA cycle (Plan–Do–Check–Act) and risk-based thinking: 

  1. Plan: Define innovation policy, strategy (innovation intent), and KPIs. 
  2. Do: Operate idea governance: ideation, selection criteria, pilots/PoC, transition to scaling/roll-out. 
  3. Check: Measure performance with dashboards; conduct internal audits and management reviews. 
  4. Act: Run CAPAs, capture lessons learned, and improve capabilities/resources. 

Risk-based thinking reduces uncertainty across technology, market, and operations, while portfolio management prioritizes initiatives by value–risk–resources. The IMS stays agile and effective, aligned to strategy and ESG commitments. 

Key ISO 56001 requirements 

  • Leadership & Innovation Policy: Top management commitment, roles & responsibilities, innovation intent. 
  • Strategy & Objectives: Clear roadmap with KPIs, targets, and review cadence. 
  • Context & Interested Parties: Analysis of internal/external environment and stakeholder needs. 
  • Governance & Processes: Flow from ideation → selection → development → validation → scaling, with criteria and decision gates. 
  • Portfolio Management: Prioritization by value, risk, cost, and execution capacity. 
  • Resources & Competence: Competence mapping, upskilling, definition of experimentation time. 
  • Knowledge & Documented Information: Policies, procedures, templates, PoC/pilot records, lessons learned. 
  • Performance Indicators (KPIs): Time-to-market, success rate, adoption, ROI, pipeline throughput. 
  • Evaluation & Improvement: Internal audits, management review, CAPA, and continual improvement. 
  • Integration with ISO 9001/14001/27001/45001 via Annex SL for shared processes, risk, and objectives. 

Benefits of adopting ISO 56001 

Strategy & Value Creation 

  • Turns innovation strategy into measurable outcomes and real value. 
  • Ensures end-to-end flow from idea to execution, creating value for the organization, customers, and partners. 
  • Enables innovation across products/services and internal processes. 

Governance & Organization 

  • Provides a clear governance structure for managing innovation. 
  • Establishes stage-gates that reduce ambiguity and ensure consistent execution. 
  • Strengthens transparency and documentation at every stage of the innovation cycle. 

Competitiveness & Performance 

  • Enhances competitiveness and market advantage. 
  • Accelerates time-to-market and the evaluation of new opportunities. 
  • Aligns resources, objectives, and innovation strategy. 
  • Improves ROI through evidence-based decisions. 

Measurement & Evaluation 

  • Decisions are based on innovation KPIs and performance indicators. 
  • Facilitates objective portfolio prioritization. 
  • Provides structured evaluations, reviews, and CAPAs for continual improvement. 

Risk Reduction & Sustainability 

  • De-risks innovation investments by balancing technology, market, and operational risks. 
  • Drives continual improvement of the IMS. 
  • Strengthens long-term resilience and sustainable growth. 

Implementing ISO 56001 converts innovation strategy into measurable results and value realization. With clear governance and stage-gates, it establishes an end-to-end path from idea to execution so value is created and captured—for products/services and internal processes alike. Competitiveness and market advantage increase because the IMS accelerates opportunity assessment, shortens time-to-market, and aligns resources to goals. Decisions rely on innovation KPIs, enabling objective portfolio prioritization and demonstrable ROI. 

At the same time, the standard offers a structured approach that avoids common pitfalls (unclear criteria, inconsistent execution, weak documentation). Strong governance and stage-gates de-risk innovation investments: technological, market, and operational risks are balanced and tied to measurable outcomes. Regular evaluations, reviews, and CAPAs fuel continual improvement, lifting performance, resilience, and sustainable growth. 

Bottom line: higher returns on investment, faster adaptation to market change, and a transparent system that delivers value today and builds tomorrow’s market advantage. 

Q-Cert’s ISO 56001 Certification Process 

Certification begins with Stage 1, reviewing documentation, scope, and organizational readiness (policy/strategy, governance, KPIs, risk-based thinking). Stage 2 focuses on practical evidence of implementation: idea flows, criteria/decision gates, portfolio management, pilot/PoC records, KPIs, and continuous improvement. 
Upon successful evaluation, a certificate is issued with a 3-year validity and annual surveillance audits to ensure ongoing conformity and IMS effectiveness. Auditors verify alignment of innovation strategy with corporate objectives, the adequacy of capabilities/resources, and the governance driving value realization. 

Real-world highlight: The first ISO 56001:2024 certification in Greece was conducted by Q-Cert. 

What auditors evaluate in ISO 56001 certification 

Audit focus 

  • Whether the IMS operates effectively and conforms to ISO 56001. 
  • Top management commitment and alignment of innovation strategy with company objectives. 
  • Whether innovation choices serve clear value priorities. 

Leadership, Knowledge & Governance 

  • How the organization manages knowledge and capabilities (team competence, roles, available resources). 
  • Whether governance effectively drives the transition from idea to implementation 
  • with transparent processes and clear decision criteria.

Measurement & Performance 

  • Strong emphasis on measurement mechanisms and KPIs. 
  • Whether indicators capture progress, learning, and value realization. 
  • How data informs management reviews and leads to evidence-based interventions and improvements. 

Evidence 

  • Tangible proof of implementation, such as: 
  • Pilot / Proof of Concept (PoC) outcomes, 
  • documented decisions, 
  • evidence of implemented innovation projects or actions. 
  • Whether the IMS embeds risk-based thinking and continual improvement (CAPAs, learning loops). 

During the audit, Q-Cert auditors examine whether the Innovation Management System (IMS) operates effectively and consistently with the requirements of ISO 56001. They focus on top management’s commitment and on how the innovation strategy is aligned with corporate objectives, so that choices reflect clear value priorities. They also observe how the organization manages knowledge and capabilities (team competence, roles, resources) and how governance steers the transition from idea to implementation through transparent decisions and criteria.

Particular emphasis is placed on measurement mechanisms: whether the KPIs adequately capture progress, learning, and value realization, and how data feeds management reviews and evidence-based interventions. Auditors look for tangible implementation evidence (e.g., pilot/PoC results, documented decisions, proof of execution) and assess whether the IMS embeds risk-based thinking and continual improvement with a cadence of CAPAs and learning loops.

Overall, the assessment is objective and evidence-driven: it looks beyond the existence of documents to confirm the IMS consistently delivers results, strengthens competitiveness, and translates strategy into measurable performance. 

Integration with ISO 9001/14001/27001/45001 

ISO 56001 fits naturally into an integrated management system thanks to Annex SL (the common structure of ISO standards) and the shared PDCA cycle. Alignment with ISO 9001/14001/27001/45001 enables a unified policy, shared objectives and metrics, reducing duplication and administrative overhead.

Practically, ISO 56001 leverages existing quality, environmental, information security, and OH&S processes to introduce innovation governance, KPIs, and clear stage-gates—without creating parallel structures. Synergies follow: shared risk frameworks, unified documentation, combined audits and management reviews, and integrated dashboards showing both innovation performance and compliance.

The result is lower cost (fewer documents, fewer separate audits), faster decisions, and a coherent performance view across systems. With ISO 56001, innovation moves from ad-hoc practice to an integrated model that strengthens operational cohesion and sustainable value. 

How certification supports innovation in any organization 

ISO 56001:2024 adapts to the size, sector, and maturity of each organization so innovation becomes repeatable and measurable—not accidental. 
For SMEs, the standard brings clarity: it streamlines idea flows, sets lightweight governance, introduces essential KPIs, and establishes a cadence of continuous improvement that boosts efficiency without hindering agility. For scale-ups and large enterprises, it provides a single framework that unifies multi-department/multi-country strategies, aligns initiative portfolios with objectives, links investments to value realization, and enables transparent decisions with shared metrics. 

Whether innovation is product, service, or process-oriented, certification ensures a clear “idea-to-implementation” path with documented selection criteria, stage-gates, and evidence (pilots/PoC). The result: stronger cross-team collaboration, better risk management (technology/market/operations), and a culture of continuous evolution—leading to faster market adaptation, KPI-visible competitiveness, and less waste from misaligned initiatives. 

Leadership and continual improvement in ISO 56001 

Leadership sets the innovation policy, aligns strategic goals with the IMS, and ensures resources, authorities, and roles. Top management defines clear performance targets, establishes governance, and oversees delivery through documented KPIs, reviews, and decision records. Monitoring goes beyond mere compliance: it focuses on evidence of value realization and alignment with business objectives. 

Continual improvement is fundamental: performance data, audit findings, and reviews feed the PDCA cycle where corrective and improvement actions are documented (e.g., CAPAs, role/process updates). This mechanism ensures the IMS evolves with effectiveness and sustainability in mind, maintaining consistency among policy, objectives, resources, and results. ISO 56001:2024 certification confirms these elements are in place and the organization is committed to responsible, evidence-based innovation. 

FAQs 

Yes. Thanks to Annex SL, integration with ISO 9001 (and vice versa) is straightforward.

Three years, with annual surveillance audits.

Set up the Innovation Management System in line with ISO 56001:2024. 

IMS policy, governance, KPIs, portfolio, and implementation evidence.

Q-Cert as a Certification Body 

Q-Cert operates internationally across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, supporting multi-industry, multi-site projects. With experience from thousands of certifications and sector-specialized auditors, we apply transparent and impartial auditing processes. Our methodology follows international best practices, providing clear documentation, timely communication, and consistent time-to-decision. 

Choosing Q-Cert for ISO 56001:2024 certification is a guarantee of international recognition and confirms your commitment to responsible, sustainable, and strategic innovation—with governance, KPIs, and continuous improvement that deliver measurable value. 

To obtain ISO 56001:2024 certification, contact Q-CERT and request a tailored proposal.