Fifth Annual Empirical Research Conference on Standardization
Summary of the Fifth Annual Empirical Research Conference on Standardization 2025
The Fifth Annual Empirical Research Conference on Standardization, co-organized by Dr. Justus Baron (BRELA, FRANDLY) and the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, brought together leading academics, policymakers, and industry experts to discuss the evolving role of standards in innovation and global competition. Following successful previous editions, the 2025 conference took place on October 16–17, 2025, at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL.
The conference featured empirical research presentations, keynote addresses, and panel discussions, exploring key topics such as SEP licensing, AI standardization, the role of technology standards in regulation, and the geopolitical dimensions of international standard development (please find the agenda here). The event served as a central forum for advancing data-driven insights and fostering dialogue on how standards shape innovation ecosystems and global technology governance.
Justus Baron presented the Value of 5G report, offering insights into how 5G technologies drive innovation and economic impact. Santiago Bergallo introduced his paper, Identifying Simulation-Based Studies in Standards Contributions: A Natural Language Processing Approach for 3GPP, which applies NLP techniques to analyze 3GPP technical documents. Filippo Grillo discussed Standardization and the Effects on Innovation in Critical and Emerging Technologies, a project that BRELA is currently doing in cooperation with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Yanis Gamarra presented A Contribution-Level Analysis of Value Creation in HEVC Standardization, examining how individual contributions shape value within the HEVC video codec ecosystem.
DAY ONE
The first day of the conference was packed with excellent research presentations and discussions, covering geopolitics in standardization, the intersection of standardization and innovation, standard-essential patent (SEP) licensing, standardization at 3GPP, safety standards, regulation, and many other topics. For instance, debates centered on the importance of data in defining intellectual property strategies and how standards can accelerate or constrain innovation in emerging technologies. Besides, two panels further explored the economic value of 5G and the evolving U.S. policy approach to standards and regulation. The day concluded with an excellent cocktail reception and networking.
DAY TWO
The second day focused on international standardization, including standards at ISO and 3GPP, as well as possible valuation approaches for the HEVC standard. Speakers emphasized the importance of data-driven insights in strengthening the link between innovation, valuation, and fair licensing practices. Moreover, the panel discussed the intersection of AI and standards – a lively discussion highlighting the role of transparency, accountability, and cross-sector cooperation in shaping responsible and inclusive AI standards.