Over the quarter of a century that the electronic design automation industry has been in existence, standards efforts have come, stayed, and gone. Formal, semi-formal, and casual groups have taken ideas and needs from concept to success (or failure).

As often as not, standards efforts started as a “pop-up” organization. A set of companies – either supplier, customer, or both – got together in someone’s conference room to explore the possibility of a new EDA standard. Fairly quickly, they realized that they needed some infrastructure, support, and IP protection. The latter was especially important in the event that the group decided *not* to pursue standardization.

These pop-up organizations often landed under the umbrella of an existing formal organization. But not before they spent time and money creating an environment where they could safely operate prior to starting their standardization process in earnest.

Recently, the IEEE Standards Association announced a new program that provides this environment “ready made”, removing the start-up investment. It’s called “Industry Connections” and could bring much-needed efficiencies to the standards game.

The concept is that companies who want to collaborate on a standard or a business problem can leverage the resources and experience of the IEEE-SA to jump-start their efforts. It sounds promising to me.

The first group formed under Industry Connections is looking into computer security – a critical issue in today’s world. If the Industry Connections Security Group is successful, their work will positively affect all of us. Except computer criminals and vandals, of course.

If you’re thinking of starting a collaboration, you might consider looking into the IEEE-SA’s Industry Connections program. I know that I will.