Among the fastest-growing areas is validation and verification, which has experienced an increase of over 20%, driven primarily by regulatory developments related to sustainability, energy efficiency, and the management of public funds. Proficiency testing providers have also seen growth of nearly 12%, while management system and personnel certification, as well as clinical laboratories, have shown increases of approximately 9%.
The ICT sector, a booming industry with international and national impact
In this context of transformation, the ICT sector is consolidating its position as one of the main drivers of growth. Internationally, the rollout of the European Union Cybersecurity Certification Scheme (EUCC) stands out. In Spain, the first accreditations under this framework have already been granted for assessing the security of software and network systems, as well as for certifying ICT products with a high level of security (such as smart cards, safes, and critical systems). This expands national capacity and contributes to strengthening the European certification ecosystem within the framework of the Cybersecurity Act.
On the other hand, the first accreditation in Spain has been granted to evaluate the digital accessibility of ATMs and point-of-sale terminals (POS) under the European standard EN 301 549. In parallel, and also with a direct impact on the national fabric, the tools for data protection have been strengthened, with the first entity accredited to certify privacy management systems according to the UNE-ISO/IEC 27701 standard.
Accreditation, a tool at the service of the regulator
In this context, José Manuel Prieto emphasized that “we continue to see a growing integration of accreditation into European and national regulatory developments, with nearly 400 provisions incorporating accreditation requirements as a mechanism to guarantee technical competence, optimize public resources, and support administrative simplification processes. This evolution is particularly visible in the digital sphere, where new regulatory initiatives such as the Artificial Intelligence Regulation, the Cyber Resilience Regulation, and the European Union Cybersecurity Certification Scheme (EUCC) foresee a significant role for accreditation as a tool to build confidence in their implementation.”
For her part, Beatriz Rivera emphasized that ENAC's collaboration with public administrations at the European, national, regional, and local levels has continued to be a key element for the development of accreditation activities in the field of information and communication technologies: “Throughout the year, we have worked closely with various ministries, including the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Administration, regarding the implementation of the EU Artificial Intelligence Regulation, as well as with organizations such as the National Cryptologic Center (CCN-CERT), the Centre for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI), and the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD), among others. Furthermore, cooperation with the Autonomous Communities and local entities has been strengthened, promoting a consistent application of requirements and supporting the effectiveness of public policies.”
The growing international commitment to administrative simplification and improved regulatory quality has highlighted the value of accreditation as a tool to support public administrations. “This is reflected in the reports published in 2025 by the OECD and the World Bank, which are echoed in ENAC’s annual report. These reports emphasize accreditation’s contribution to reducing administrative burdens, eliminating redundancies, and improving regulatory efficiency. These recommendations fully align with the vision promoted by the European Commission, which identifies administrative simplification as a priority for strengthening European competitiveness,” stated the Director General of ENAC.
Transformation of the international accreditation system
Another key milestone this year at the international level has been the launch of the new organization Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI), which integrates the activities previously carried out by ILAC and IAF and will shape the future evolution of the international accreditation system.
“The publication of the new European Accreditation Multilateral Agreement (EA MLA) brand will help strengthen the visibility and confidence in accredited services within the European context. ENAC maintains its status as a signatory to all international multilateral recognition agreements, which allows certificates and reports issued by accredited bodies to be accepted in more than 120 economies, avoiding the need for repeated testing, inspections, or certifications and thus facilitating the export of products and services and companies' access to international markets,” concluded Beatriz Rivera.
