ISO 56000 · Innovation Management Standard · Active Since 2013

ISO 56001 — The Global Standard for Systematic Innovation

We Shaped the Standard. Now We Deploy It.

Innovation360 has contributed to ISO/TC 279 since 2013 — the committee that built the entire ISO 56000 family. Our accreditation system and InnoSurvey® are the world's most data-driven path from ISO 56000 readiness to ISO 56001 certification.

2013
Active in ISO/TC 279
10,000+
Organizations assessed
105
Countries in database
Jan 2025
ISO 56000:2025 published
What is ISO 56000?

The International Standard for Innovation Management

ISO 56000 is a family of international standards developed by ISO/TC 279 — a technical committee with experts from over 160 countries — providing organizations a structured, globally recognized framework for managing innovation systematically, measurably, and sustainably.

The family culminates in ISO 56001 — the only certifiable standard — published September 2024. Innovation360 has been an active contributor to ISO/TC 279 since 2013 and helped shape every standard in the family.

90% vs 6%
of executives say innovation is critical — yet only 6% say their efforts are working. ISO 56000 exists to close that gap.
Forrester Research
Tap to explore each standard

The ISO 56000 Family

ISO 56000:2025 — Fundamentals & VocabularyFoundation

Defines the fundamental concepts, principles and vocabulary for the entire ISO 56000 family. Creates a common language for all IMS work — updated from ISO 56000:2020.

Published Jan 23, 2025

ISO 56001:2024 — IMS Requirements (Certifiable)Certifiable

Sets mandatory requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continuously improving an Innovation Management System. Certified by accredited third-party auditors — not by Innovation360.

Published Sep 2024 · Only certifiable standard

ISO 56002:2019 — IMS Guidance

Practical guidance for structuring, implementing and continuously improving an IMS. The basis of Innovation360's 16 Deep Principles and ISO 56002 Readiness Assessment in InnoSurvey®.

ISO 56003–56008 — Specialized Guidance
  • 56003 — Tools & Methods for Innovation Partnerships
  • 56004 — Innovation Assessment (basis of InnoSurvey®)
  • 56005 — Intellectual Property Management
  • 56007 — Idea Management
  • 56008 — Measuring Innovation Effectiveness
ISO 56010 — Practical Examples & Case Studies

Concrete real-world examples helping organizations translate the full ISO 56000 family into operational practice. Used by Innovation360 Licensed Practitioners globally.

Innovation360 & ISO 56000 — 2013 to 2025

12 Years From First Draft to Global Standard

We didn't just implement ISO 56000 — we helped write it. Innovation360 has contributed to every milestone since ISO/TC 279 was formed.

2013

ISO/TC 279 Formed

Innovation360 joins as active contributor from day one — bringing InnoSurvey® data from thousands of organizations.

i360 joins ISO/TC 279
2019

ISO 56002 Published

First IMS guidance standard. Immediately integrated into InnoSurvey® and all belt curricula.

In InnoSurvey®
Sep 2024

ISO 56001 Launches

World's first certifiable Innovation Management Standard. Organizations can now pursue ISO 56001 certification.

Certifiable standard
Jan 2025

ISO 56000:2025 — Complete Standard

Updated foundation document published. Full end-to-end ISO 56001 readiness — IMBA through Black Belt.

Complete standard family
2016–18

Working Drafts & Expert Review

Consensus drafting across 50+ nations. Innovation360 shapes all 8 foundational principles.

8 principles shaped
2021

Play Bold · ISO 56000 Readiness

Magnus Penker publishes Play Bold. ISO 56000 Readiness diagnostic launched inside InnoSurvey®.

Readiness tool live
Oct 2024

Innovation by Design Published

The world's first book on ISO 56000 — by Magnus Penker and Gerry Purcell.

World's first ISO 56000 book
2013

ISO/TC 279 Formed

Innovation360 joins as active contributor from day one — bringing InnoSurvey® data from thousands of organizations.

i360 joins ISO/TC 279
2016–18

Working Drafts & Expert Review

Consensus drafting across 50+ nations. Innovation360 shapes all 8 foundational principles.

8 principles shaped
2019

ISO 56002 Published

First IMS guidance standard. Immediately integrated into InnoSurvey® and all belt curricula.

In InnoSurvey®
2021

Play Bold · ISO 56000 Readiness

Magnus Penker publishes Play Bold. ISO 56000 Readiness diagnostic launched inside InnoSurvey®.

Readiness tool live
Sep 2024

ISO 56001 Launches

World's first certifiable Innovation Management Standard. Organizations can now pursue ISO 56001 certification.

Certifiable standard
Oct 2024

Innovation by Design Published

The world's first book on ISO 56000 — by Magnus Penker and Gerry Purcell.

World's first ISO 56000 book
Jan 2025

ISO 56000:2025 — Complete Standard

Updated foundation document published. Full end-to-end ISO 56001 readiness — IMBA through Black Belt.

Complete standard family
ISO 56000 — Core Framework

The Eight Principles of ISO 56000

These eight principles form the backbone of every ISO 56001-aligned IMS. Scores are from Innovation360's InnoSurvey® database — 10,000+ organizations in 105 countries.

01

Realization of Value

Innovation must deliver measurable value — financial, social, or environmental. R&D that fails to create value is not innovation.

4.0 / 5.0
02

Future-Focused Leaders

Leaders must actively guide the organization toward future opportunities. Scale creates leadership inertia.

3.0 / 5.0
03

Strategic Direction

Innovation must be aligned with organizational strategy. Intent exists — but execution gaps remain.

5.0 / 5.0
04

Supportive Culture

A culture that encourages innovation, creativity, risk-taking and learning from failure is essential.

3.0 / 5.0
05

Exploiting Insights

Systematic gathering and use of insights — from market signals, technology developments, and ecosystem dynamics.

3.3 / 5.0
06

Managing Uncertainty

Systematic approaches for navigating, learning from, and reducing uncertainty throughout the innovation process.

3.3 / 5.0
07

Adaptability

Lowest globally

Organizations must remain flexible and rapidly responsive to change. The single biggest improvement opportunity worldwide.

1.7 / 5.0
08

Systematic Approach

Innovation managed systematically is sustainable, repeatable, and measurable.

3.4 / 5.0
ISO 56001 Certification

How an Organization Gets ISO 56001 Certified

ISO 56001 is certified by an accredited third-party body — not by Innovation360. The process starts with a two-part internal audit that produces an exact implementation plan before any external work begins.

Think of it exactly like ISO 9001: consultants build the system, an auditor certifies it. Innovation360 is the most data-driven provider of that preparation — because we helped write the standard and our InnoSurvey® has benchmarked 10,000+ organizations against its principles.

The internal audit (Steps 1–2) is not a formality. It generates the exact, prioritized action plan that drives Steps 3 and 4 — ensuring no effort is wasted and the path to certification is fully defined before implementation begins.

“Innovation360 does not certify organizations. We equip them — with the data, methodology and trained practitioners to pass an audit by any accredited third-party certification body.”
Innovation360 Group

The Four Steps to ISO 56001 Certification

01

ISO 56000 Readiness Assessment

Internal Audit — Step 1
  • Run InnoSurvey® — full 360° innovation assessment
  • ISO 56002 Readiness diagnostic — 16 deep principles scored
  • Score vs all 8 ISO 56000 principles
  • Benchmark vs 10,000+ organizations in 105 countries
  • Identify current IMS maturity level
Output
Scored readiness report with global benchmark data — input to Step 2
Delivered by Innovation360 & Licensed Practitioner
02

Process, Governance & Gap Analysis

Internal Audit — Step 2
  • Analyse innovation processes vs ISO 56001 requirements
  • Review governance, KPIs, leadership and management systems
  • Assess strategic alignment and existing documentation
  • Culture Mapping — link culture, competencies and strategy
  • Produce prioritized gap list with owners and timelines
Output
Certified Gap-to-Certification Action Plan
Delivered by Innovation360 & Licensed Practitioner
03

IMS Build, Training & Change

Implementation
  • Execute Gap-to-Certification Action Plan from Step 2
  • Design ISO-compatible IMS — processes, metrics, governance
  • Leadership development and innovation culture training
  • Deploy Transformation360 and other IMS software tools
  • Re-assess with InnoSurvey® to confirm certification readiness
Output
Fully implemented IMS — ready for external audit
Delivered by Innovation360 & Licensed Practitioner
04

Third-Party Certification

External Audit
  • Engage an accredited external ISO 56001 auditor
  • Auditor independently verifies full IMS conformance
  • LP supports audit documentation preparation
  • ISO 56001 certificate issued by third-party body
  • Annual InnoSurvey® re-assessment to maintain certification
Typical journey: 9–18 months
The Innovation360 Accreditation Journey

IMBA → IMYB → IMGB → IMBB

A progressive, instructor-led program building from ISO 56000 foundation to full Black Belt mastery. Recognized by Harvard, Oxford and IEEE.

IMBA

Basic Accreditation
Foundation

3-Day Online Bootcamp. The Innovation360 framework — strategy, process, leadership, culture.

  • Analyse a test client with InnoSurvey®
  • Craft professional innovation reports with global benchmarks
  • Run Innovation360 Group® Circles for lead generation
  • Build your personal brand as an innovation expert
Online · 3 time zones · Blockchain-certified certificate

IMYB

Yellow Belt
Ideation

2-Day Online Grading. Early innovation phase management and ideation campaigns.

  • Commercialization Readiness Tool
  • Organizational design for innovation centers
  • Deploy ideation platforms — authorized reseller
  • Capabilities vs competencies — Competence Survey
Online · 3 time zones · Yellow Belt™ credential

IMGB

Green Belt
Strategy

2-Day In-Person, Stockholm. Strategy-innovation-growth linking. Full ISO 56000 curriculum.

  • Culture mapping — link culture and capabilities
  • PESTLED360 and Scenarios360 — key drivers
  • Commercialization readiness and pipeline design
  • Paradigms and decision-making under uncertainty
In-person Stockholm · Trainer: Magnus Penker

IMBB

Black Belt
Mastery

2-Day In-Person, Stockholm. Full IMS mastery — ecosystem innovation and smart cities.

  • Commercialization — venturing and business model innovation
  • Leadership — blockers, amplifiers, transformation programs
  • Organizational design and change management
  • Exclusive annual Black Belt summits
  • Faculty eligibility — train the next generation
In-person Stockholm · Trainer: Magnus Penker
Optional parallel track

Certified ISO 56000 Advisor

Alongside any LP accreditation level, you can pursue the ISO 56000 Advisor credential — adding formal ISO 56001 advisory positioning. The entire Innovation360 methodology already exceeds ISO 56000 alignment. The Advisor credential adds an ISO-specific qualification for practitioners who want it.

Innovation360 Partner Program

Two Paths — Individual & Organization

The Licensed Practitioner credential is for individuals. Partner programs are for organizations — consultancy firms, corporations and universities.

Licensed Practitioner

Individual
IMBA required

Independents, boutique consultants, corporate intrapreneurs and experts.

  • World-leading innovation methodology & data
  • InnoSurvey® access — world's largest innovation database
  • Featured on Innovation360 site
  • References, cases & global community access
  • LP title — Innovation360 Licensed Practitioner
  • Online resources, tools & report templates
  • Progress from IMBA to IMBB
  • Yearly fee for system access & renewal

Gold Partner

Organization
Min. 2 Yellow Belt

Boutique & large consultancy firms with a defined regional strategy.

  • Extensive pre-sales support
  • Gold Partner logotype on homepage
  • InnoLib™ — largest innovation consulting library
  • Official InnovationIQ™ Assessor status
  • AI-powered back-office tools
  • Sustainnovation™ for sustainability
  • Free polls + referral bonuses
  • Collaborate on client projects

Corporate Partner

Organization
Min. 3 Green Belt

Large organizations building internal innovation management capability.

  • Corporate Partner logotype
  • Unlimited Transformation360 access
  • Training & support for Transformation360
  • Customized Innovation360® Playbook
  • 40-hour consulting support included
  • Discount on polls & gradings
  • Access to non-accessible tools & methods

Educational Partner

Education
Min. 5 GB + 1 BB

Universities, business schools & Maker Spaces.

  • Educational Partner logotype
  • Unlimited iTransformation360 access
  • Content for micro-credentials & exec education
  • Free assessment tools for education
  • Discount on polls & gradings
  • Georgetown, Humber, CBS partnership model
  • Bridge academia and industry
Advancing Innovation Leadership through ISO 56000

Eric C. Peterson

PhD in Innovation Management · IMGB Green Belt™ · Independent ISO 56000 Advisor

  • PhD in Innovation Management
  • IMGB Innovation Management Green Belt™
  • Carrier Corporation & Fortune 500
  • Independent ISO 56000 Advisor
  • Innovation360 collaborator
ISO 56000 is a key framework for organizations seeking to strengthen innovation capability, leadership, and long-term value creation. For practitioners ready to lead this transformation, the combination of Innovation360 accreditation and ISO 56000 advisory credentials is uniquely powerful.
— Eric C. Peterson — ISO 56000 Advisor & Innovation360 Licensed Practitioner
Eric C. Peterson — PhD Innovation Management, IMGB Green Belt, ISO 56000 Advisor
Research & Publications

The Books That Built the Framework

The Complete Guide to Business Innovation — 5-Volume Series

Innovation by Design

Volume 3 · ISO 56000
CEO Playbook Oct 2024

The definitive reference guide for ISO 56000. Built on data from 10,000+ organizations in 105 countries. Introduces the 5i and 3i frameworks.

Magnus Penker & Gerry Purcell · Foreword: Astronaut Christer Fuglesang

Play Bold

Volume 2 · Creative Destruction
Bestseller 2021

Practical playbook for CEOs on building a culture of continuous innovation. InnoSurvey® data, 10+ startups and 30+ European turnarounds.

Magnus Penker · Foreword: Philip Kotler

How to Assess and Measure Business Innovation

Volume 1 · Assessment
IMBA Prep 2017

Part one in the 5-volume series. Guides business leaders through critical self-assessment prior to any innovative project. Introduces the InnoSurvey® methodology.

Magnus Penker, Sten Jacobson & Peter Junermark

Sustainable Growth & Profits

Volume 5 · Strategy & Org Design
Foundation 2018

The methodological foundation — linking innovation strategy, organizational design and initiatives to measurable, sustainable growth.

Magnus Penker, Peter Junermark & Sten Jacobson