IIW provides a unique cooperative and collaborative platform for experts, practitioners and policy makers in the welding and related industries to share not only technical information and innovation, but knowhow in all areas affecting a country’s ability to achieve sustainable development in a sustainable environment and fulfil their responsibilities in a cooperative and converging global community.

As the world population continues to grow, the pressures on manufacturing, infrastructure and power generation, not to mention basic needs such as food, water, shelter and education, have become enormous common challenges. The welding industry is a significant global industry and, together with welding as an enabling technology, it plays a critical role in the world’s ability to cope with these pressures and changes and drive significant progress.

IIW is dedicated to the concept of helping all countries build their own sustainable welding capabilities to meet these challenges and improve the quality of life for their people and all mankind. The IIW Project “Establishing a National Welding Capability (NWC) in a Country” is a means of achieving this.
In this framework, IIW developed a report to provide guidance, including practical ideas and recommendations, on how a country’s welding industry can improve its national welding capability and simultaneously progress targeted the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as complement other initiatives being taken by governments, aid agencies, industry and like-minded organisations.
The IIW Past-President Chris Smallbone edited the report with the support of an IIW task group of representatives for the international Welding community. It is composed of three volumes (use the link below to download the documents):

• The Short Report
• Volume 1 “NWC and SDGs Interconnected and Interdependent in the Welding Industry”
• Volume 2 “Potential National Welding Capability Welding Industry Projects and Resources”

IIW is collecting inputs, comments and suggestions on the report, as it is periodically reviewed to align it to evolving, challenges, opportunities and objectives. Please submit your inputs to NWC@iiwelding.net