Although there are case studies on the quality management systems in research centers – called here R&D organizations – none of these studies aimed to present the diffusion of ISO 9001:2015 certification in this group. In this sense, even in "The ISO Survey," there is no evidence regarding the diffusion of ISO 9001:2015 in R&D organizations. The purpose of this article is to analyze the diffusion of ISO 9001:2015 in R&D organizations, including its scope. Using data provided by different databases, it was possible to find cases to be studied and build a new database. In addition, the review of the quality management system scopes, based on ISO 9001: 2015, allowed their characterization. The database created enabled us to understand the diffusion of ISO 9001 and the objects of certification by R&D organizations worldwide. The present article attempts to be a relevant contribution to understanding ISO 9001:2015 in R&D organizations and the importance of this certification in this type of organization.
Keywords: ISO 9001; R&D; Quality Management System; R&D Organization.