With continual accessibility to the Internet, we can check our e-mail, shop and access information anytime. But behind these innovations are real people, visionaries and supporting these gurus and innovators are International Standards.

To coincide with the "50 Years of Human Spaceflight", theme of the World Space Week 2011, the special report of this edition is devoted to the discovery of space standards.

This issue of ISO Focus+ highlights how ISO standards help create confidence in products, services and in global trade.

What is ISO’s magic formula? We unveil the tools on which ISO’s success rests: the ISO standards development process.

This issue features an array of articles highlighting the diverse technical assistance projects aimed at developing countries and how these are made possible through the generous support of donor agencies.

The issue raises awareness of International Standards as part of the solution to today’s energy issues. It brings together a portfolio of articles from a diverse range of subjects: from electric cars to energy efficiency of buildings.

This special report looks at ISO 3166 for country codes and its applications in dozens of sectors, as well as the many other ISO standards where “success codes” are making an important impact.

This issue tells social responsibility like it is, and focuses on the growing role that ISO 26000, which provides guidance on SR, is taking in its promotion.

From terrorism to fraud, to piracy and identity theft, security has become one of the highest priorities of government, business and the general public at large.

On the threshold the ISO Strategic Plan 2011 -2015 – Solutions to Global Challenges, ISO has committed itself to a comprehensive strategic roadmap for the next five years consisting of seven major objectives.