World Accreditation Day 2025
Accreditation: Strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises worldwide
This year's World Accreditation Day (WAD) on 9 June 2025 will focus on the central role of accreditation and conformity assessment for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). According to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), SMEs account for around 95% of all businesses worldwide and contribute significantly to value creation and employment in many countries. At the same time, they face major challenges: bureaucracy, skills shortages, rising costs and political uncertainty. Accreditation can help build trust, ensure quality and open up new markets by ensuring that testing and certification bodies work reliably and competently – and thus provide SMEs with recognised proof of quality, safety and compliance.
Impetus for small and medium-sized enterprises – with structure, security and prospects
Whether they are craft businesses, suppliers or innovative start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises make a significant contribution to economic and social stability. They stand for innovative strength, customer proximity and a high degree of adaptability. Their products and services shape our daily lives – often without us even noticing. In many countries, they account for more than half of employment and value creation.
Precisely because they are so diverse and dynamic, SMEs need practical and internationally compatible solutions. Accredited conformity assessments – such as testing, inspections or certifications – provide a clear basis for this: they make services objectively comparable, create trust and strengthen competitiveness. Supported by the international recognition agreements of IAF and ILAC, they help SMEs to be successful across borders.
What drives SMEs and how accreditation provides guidance
In a dynamic market environment, however, small and medium-sized enterprises are coming under increasing pressure. Changes are happening faster than ever before: economically, technologically and socially. What was considered solid yesterday must be flexibly adapted today. For many SMEs, this means keeping pace with limited resources, making decisions under uncertainty and, at the same time, meeting the rising expectations of customers, partners and authorities.
In a dynamic market environment, however, small and medium-sized enterprises are coming under increasing pressure. Changes are happening faster than ever before: economically, technologically and socially. What was considered solid yesterday must be flexibly adapted today. For many SMEs, this means keeping pace with limited resources, making decisions under uncertainty and, at the same time, meeting the rising expectations of customers, partners and authorities.
According to ILAC and IAF, it is precisely these challenges that accreditation can provide concrete support for – through internationally recognised evidence, clear requirements and practical implementation aids. The following topics are central to many SMEs:
Regulatory complexity
Legal requirements and industry-specific standards are becoming increasingly comprehensive – and are not always easy to keep track of. This means a high level of organisational effort, especially for smaller companies.
Legal requirements and industry-specific standards are becoming increasingly comprehensive – and are not always easy to keep track of. This means a high level of organisational effort, especially for smaller companies.
Cost and price pressure
Rising energy, material and operating costs are limiting companies' room for manoeuvre – especially in the manufacturing and service sectors.
Rising energy, material and operating costs are limiting companies' room for manoeuvre – especially in the manufacturing and service sectors.
Technological upheavals
Digitalisation, automation and AI are fundamentally changing work processes. Not all companies can invest or restructure immediately.
Digitalisation, automation and AI are fundamentally changing work processes. Not all companies can invest or restructure immediately.
Sustainability and ESG requirements
More and more customers, investors and authorities are demanding transparent sustainability strategies – even from smaller players.
More and more customers, investors and authorities are demanding transparent sustainability strategies – even from smaller players.
In this challenging environment in particular, it is clear that reliable instruments are needed that provide guidance while also opening up scope for action. An accredited conformity assessment – whether through testing, certification or inspection – can do just that. It creates transparent framework conditions, supports the implementation of complex requirements and enables structures to be aligned efficiently and in a future-proof manner.
World Accreditation Day 2025 focuses on the role of accreditation for small and medium-sized enterprises. Initiated by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), it shows how accredited procedures help SMEs to demonstrate quality, promote innovation and be globally competitive.
The focus is on contributing to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8 & 9): decent work, sustainable growth, industrial development and innovation. Internationally recognised certification creates a framework for SMEs that strengthens trust, improves processes and unlocks development potential.
Your trusted partner
As a globally recognised testing and certification organisation, we at DEKRA support SMEs worldwide in implementing standards, ensuring compliance and tapping into new markets. Through our accredited services, we help companies improve their processes, meet regulatory requirements and position themselves sustainably.
We offer you:
- Many years of experience with accredited procedures in numerous industries
- An international network of experts
- Efficient, tailor-made solutions, even for smaller companies
- State-of-the-art testing procedures and comprehensive support