The Initiative QI-Digital

Abstract

The Quality Infrastructure (QI) is anchored in legal structures and trade agreements worldwide. It is the basis for verifiable and comparable quality, safety and environmental compatibility of products and services. It is based on the interaction of metrology, standardisation, conformity assessment, accreditation and market surveillance. "Quality Infrastructure" stands for trust in quality and safety, which should also apply in the digital and green transformation.  In an increasingly digitalised world, quality assurance of products, processes, and services must also be reimagined. QI-Digital is an initiative of the central players in German QI: BAM, DAKKS, DIN, DKE and PTB [Logos]. The initiative is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action (BMWK). Our goal is to modernise the quality infrastructure (QI), to enable efficient digital quality assurance. Our innovation projects combine practical applications with basic scientific research. Together with our partners from industry, society, research and politics, we create digital tools and processes for a digitally transformed quality infrastructure. In this way, we contribute to ensure the highest quality of innovative products and services of quality assurance globally in the future. Our digital toolbox: Smart Standards: The standard of the future provides all relevant information in machine-interpretable and machine-executable form. Digital Certificates: We develop digital, machine-interpretable, and interoperable certificates for QI processes such as calibrations or conformity assessments. Quality-X: Quality-X aims to weave an interoperable digital QI data ecosystem into existing initiatives and support efficient and trustful data sharing across organization boundaries. eAttestation: Accredited bodies can receive the specific state accreditation symbol of the German accreditation authority DAkkS in a digital form. We also investigate remote procedures for calibration, verification, and monitoring as well as data-driven and AI-based methods. Together with all stakeholders, we identify and work to resolve roadblocks to the digital transformation in the regulatory framework and administrative practices. Currently we focus on three pilot projects: AI in Medical Applications: For AI applications in the particularly sensitive area of health, we are developing the foundations of measurable quality criteria. We develop procedures so that the application can be quality-assured and trustworthy. Reliable Hydrogen Technology: Using the example of a hydrogen filling station, we use our living lab to show how operational safety, availability, and economic efficiency can be increased with the help of new digital methods. Additive Manufacturing for SMEs: In our living lab, we are working together with interested companies on fundamental and practical solutions for digitally supported quality assurance in additive manufacturing. Our research and development work is guided by a steering committee made up of the heads of the participating organisations and an advisory board. Once a year, we invite all interested parties to a global meeting at which researchers and users come together to engage in intensive dialogue: The QI-Digital Forum. The next issue will take place on 8 and 9 October 2025 at PTB in Berlin. For more information please contact us: info (at) qi-digital.de