What is UNE 166006?

What is it, and who publishes it?

UNE 166006:2018 is a standard of the Spanish Association for Standardisation (UNE), drafted by technical committee CTN 166, ‘Research, technological development and innovation (R&D+i) activities’, and classified under research and development (ICS 03.100.40). It was issued on 18 April 2018, superseded the 2011 edition, and is listed as in force in the UNE catalogue^[1].

Its purpose is to formalise and structure the process of listening to and observing the environment, to support decision-making at all levels of the organisation^[2]. It is a requirements standard: it states what must exist and be documented, not which tool to use. Any organisation can apply it, and it is often used as a purchase specification when watching is contracted to a specialist provider^[3].

How has it evolved since 2006?

1. 2006. First edition, focused on technology watch as support for R&D+i^[3].
2. 2011. Incorporates competitive intelligence: the analysis and use of information for decision-making^[3].
3. 2018. Third edition. From late 2016 it was revised by working group GT 6 of CTN 166, with more than 40 experts from companies, universities, technology centres, the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, service providers, conformity assessment bodies and industrial property agents^[3].

What changed in the 2018 edition?

• A single concept. It unifies watch and intelligence and removes the adjectives ‘technological’ and ‘competitive’, because economic, political, social and environmental factors weigh as much as technology^[3].
• ISO high-level structure. It adopts the common structure of management system standards, which makes it easier to integrate with others, such as quality or innovation standards^[3].
• Context of the organisation (clause 4). A new clause: the system must start from the organisation’s situation and interested parties^[3].
• Support (clause 7). Covers roles and competences, networked watch and intelligence, foresight and forecasting, and information visualisation^[3].
• Operation (clause 8). Thoroughly revised: for each type of product, the source control, search, processing, value-adding, distribution and storage must be defined and documented^[3].
• Outsourcing. All the requirements for external providers are grouped in a single section^[3].

How does it relate to other innovation management standards?

The replacement of UNE 166002 by ISO 56001 does not affect UNE 166006, which remains the specific reference for certifying a watch and intelligence system in Spain.

What does a UNE 166006 certification check?

An independent certification body audits that the system meets the requirements of the standard. In practice, this means being able to demonstrate, with evidence:

1. That the organisation’s information needs are identified and reviewed.
2. That roles are assigned and people have the necessary competence.
3. That sources are selected and controlled on defined criteria.
4. That each watch product, for example a newsletter or a report, has its search, processing, value-adding, distribution and storage documented.
5. That, if outsourcing is involved, the specific requirements for the provider are met.
6. That results are evaluated and the system is improved.

How to use it when contracting watching

If you are commissioning watching from a third party, the standard gives you a list of questions: which products the provider will deliver and how they are defined, how it selects and reviews sources, who validates before publication, where what is delivered is kept, and how it is measured whether it is useful. Ask for the certificate, and check that its scope covers the service you are contracting and that it is in force.

What does Innguma’s certification cover?

• Standard: UNE 166006:2018.
• Scope: Innguma’s watch and intelligence system.
• Certificate: no. 34/5705/25/01139.
• Certification body: OCA Global.
• Validity: until January 2028.

The full certificate is available in PDF^[7].