The subject of glued-in rods in timber elements has seen extensive research and development over the last decades. Despite the enormous experience and knowledge gathered, there is still no universal approach, enabling the standardized design of GiR as connections or reinforcement. Potential reasons are contradicting results, the multitude of influencing parameters and disagreement between experts amongst others. A potentially approach, that is currently also discussed in the relevant standardization committee CEN/TC 250/SC5 will be briefly explained and compared with the design rules and methods from Russia where GiR are in use for decades.