As the U.S. member body to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and (via the U.S. National Committee) the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) seeks comments by November 14, 2022, on a proposal for a new ISO/IEC Joint Technical Committee (JTC) on quantum technologies. BSI, the ISO member for the United Kingdom, submitted the proposal.
Background on Quantum Technology
As noted in the proposal, quantum technology (QT; quantum computing and closely related technology) serves to drive revolutionary advances for some sectors of industry and society, with rapid financial growth. As an example, quantum sensing has applications in a wide variety of fields, including distributed, high-precision time, magnetic-field sensors, inertial sensors, and distributed quantum computing.
As the proposal asserts, standards for some aspects of QT are already in development but there is a pressing need to begin standardization at the global level, in areas including but not limited to:
To that end, to prevent multiple and competing standards from confusing and fragmenting the market, taxing the limited community of experts, the proposal asserts that it is vital that ISO and IEC establish a new JTC to produce a comprehensive, robust, and consistent suite of standards to serve the global quantum marketplace.
Read the proposal and submit comments to Steven Cornish, ANSI senior director of international policy and strategy, [email protected], by close of business on November 14, 2022. Based on input received from U.S. stakeholders, comments will be submitted on behalf of ANSI as member of the ISO/TMB.