New IEC/ISO Joint Technical Committee on Quantum Technologies—Inviting Participants for the U.S. National Committee Technical Advisory Group

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) have recently approved the formation of a new Joint Technical Committee (JTC) on Quantum Technologies, managed by the British Standards Institution (BSI) as Secretariat and chaired by a representative of the Republic of Korea.  The initial scope statement is below.  

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The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has selected the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as administrator of the U.S. National Committee (USNC) TAG to ISO-IEC/JTC3 Quantum technologies.  NIST invites all U.S. parties interested in engaging with the new JTC, including leading technical working groups in specific quantum technical areas, or potentially serving as technical advisor of the USNC TAG, to contact Clare Allocca (clare.allocca [at] nist.gov (clare[dot]allocca[at]nist[dot]gov)), Interim Secretary, USNC TAG to ISO-IEC/JTC-3.  

The first ISO-IEC/JTC-3 Plenary meeting is scheduled for late May in Seoul, Republic of Korea.  During that meeting, it is anticipated that the overall structure, including leadership and technical foci of working groups and/or subcommittees, will be discussed.  It is important that the U.S. come to a consensus recommendation of overall structure and priorities, and be prepared to represent this, while also proposing or volunteering for specific leadership opportunities.

Please contact Clare Allocca (clare.allocca [at] nist.gov (clare[dot]allocca[at]nist[dot]gov)), Interim Secretary, USNC TAG to ISO-IEC/JTC-3, with any questions or to express interest in participation and/or leadership in either the JTC or the TAG.

Initial Scope Statement.  The IEC Standardization Management Board (IEC/SMB) and the ISO Technical Management Board (ISO/TMB) have both initially agreed to the title “IEC/ISO Joint Technical Committee on Quantum Technologies,” with the following scope:

• Standardization in the field of quantum technologies.
• The scope includes standardization in the field of quantum technologies, including quantum information technologies (quantum computing and quantum simulation), quantum metrology, quantum sources, quantum detectors, quantum communications, and fundamental quantum technologies. The JTC will coordinate the results of these efforts with relevant committees and subcommittees that have within their scopes the development of specific sector-based applications of quantum technologies.
• Excluded: Specific sector-based applications and standardization in the fields of information technology (JTC 1 and its subcommittees), nanotechnology (IEC TC 113 and ISO TC 229), fibre optics (IEC TC 86), cryogenic vessels (ISO TC 220), and semiconductors (IEC TC 47).
• Liaisons: JTC 1 and its appropriate subcommittees, IEC TC 46, IEC TC 47, IEC TC 62, IEC TC 86, IEC TC 90, IEC TC 113, ISO TC 172, ISO TC 201, ISO TC 206, ISO TC 220, ISO TC 229, ITU-T, ETSI, CEN & CENELEC JTC 22.