ISO 56000-2025 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 56000:2025 — Innovation management — Fundamentals and vocabulary. This International Standard defines the fundamental concepts, principles and vocabulary used across the ISO 56000 family to support consistent implementation, communication and assessment of innovation management within and between organizations of all types and sizes.

Abstract

This document establishes key terms and the foundational principles of innovation management. It is written to be applicable to any organization (private, public, non‑profit), to all types and forms of innovation (product, service, process, business model, incremental to radical) and to different innovation approaches (internal, open, user‑driven, technology‑driven). The standard provides a common vocabulary to help align practice, governance and assessment across the broader ISO 56000 family.

General information

• Status: Published
• Publication date: January 2025 (Edition 2 published January 2025)
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• ICS / categories: 01.040.03; 03.100.01; 03.100.40
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2025)
• Number of pages: 30

Scope

ISO 56000:2025 provides the terminology and fundamental principles that underpin the ISO innovation management series. Its scope covers definitions and foundational concepts intended to be used by all organizations regardless of sector, maturity or size, and for all kinds and forms of innovation activities. It does not itself set requirements for a certifiable management system (those are covered elsewhere in the family) but establishes the common language and core principles used across the series.

Key topics and requirements

• Common vocabulary for innovation management (terms and definitions used throughout the ISO 56000 family).
• Fundamental concepts and guiding principles for effective innovation (e.g., value realization, leadership alignment, culture, ecosystem collaboration).
• Core elements that support systematic innovation activities (context, strategy, resources, processes, measurement and learning).
• Interfaces and alignment with other management system standards to enable integrated management approaches.
• Guidance for applying the fundamentals across different types of innovation and organizational contexts (scalability and adaptability of concepts).

Typical use and users

Used by organizations beginning to formalize innovation practice, by organizations integrating innovation into existing management systems, and by consultants, trainers and educators. Typical users include innovation and R&D managers, strategy and product leaders, quality and systems auditors, policy makers and academics seeking a common reference vocabulary and foundational principles. The standard supports both practical implementation and cross‑organizational communication.

Related standards

ISO 56000 is part of the ISO 56000 series. Closely related documents include ISO 56001 (innovation management system — requirements), ISO 56002 (innovation management system — guidance), ISO 56003 (tools and methods for innovation partnership), ISO/TR 56004 (innovation management assessment), ISO 56005 (intellectual property management guidance), ISO 56006 (strategic intelligence), ISO 56007 (managing opportunities and ideas) and ISO 56008 (innovation measurement). Together these provide requirements, guidance and tools for establishing, operating and assessing innovation management systems.

Keywords

innovation management, fundamentals, vocabulary, terminology, innovation principles, innovation system, ISO 56000, innovation governance, value realization, innovation culture

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 56000:2025 is the International Standard that defines the fundamentals, principles and vocabulary for innovation management used across the ISO 56000 family. It codifies common terms and foundational concepts to enable consistent practice and communication.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers definitions, core concepts and guiding principles for innovation management and explains how those fundamentals apply across types of organizations, innovation types and approaches. It does not itself set certifiable system requirements but provides the shared language and basis for other documents in the family that do.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Innovation managers, organizational leaders, systems and quality professionals, consultants, auditors, policy makers and educators use ISO 56000 as a reference for consistent terminology and foundational principles when designing, integrating or assessing innovation activities and systems.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 56000:2025 is the current (second) edition published in January 2025 and replaces the earlier 2020/2021 edition. National adoptions and withdrawals of the previous editions occurred as the 2025 edition was published.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 56000 is the foundational document in the ISO 56000 family of innovation management standards; the family includes both guidance and requirements documents (e.g., ISO 56002 guidance and ISO 56001 requirements) and supporting technical reports and guidance on tools, assessment and measurement.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Key keywords include: innovation management, fundamentals, vocabulary, terminology, principles, value realization, innovation culture, governance, ISO 56000.