Establishment of a U.S. Technical Advisory Group for the New IEC/ISO Joint Technical Committee on Quantum Technologies

Following the approval of a proposal from the British Standards Institution (BSI) for IEC and ISO to form a new Joint Technical Committee (JTC) on Quantum Technologies, ANSI is broadly soliciting all U.S. parties interested in potentially serving as the administrator of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and/or as members of a TAG for this JTC, upon its formation.

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.

In addition, as a practical consideration for the operations of the new JTC, the IEC/SMB and the ISO/TMB have initially agreed that the IEC Directives Supplement, IEC IT system, and IEC editing/publishing support will be applied to the new JTC and its sublevels. As JTCs are joint activities between IEC and ISO, the decision on applying the IEC Directives Supplement, IEC IT system, and editing/publishing support does not imply that IEC has any greater oversight of the new JTC than ISO. IEC and ISO are co-equal partners in their support of JTCs. 

Ballots will soon be issued to both the IEC/SMB and ISO/TMB to formally approve the new JTC under this title and scope, as well as the practical considerations for support. ANSI does not foresee any outcome resulting from those ballots that differs from the details presented above. Therefore, in order for the U.S. to be well-prepared for the start-up of this new JTC, ANSI is issuing this notice broadly to solicit all U.S. parties interested in potentially serving as the administrator of the U.S. TAG and/or as members of the TAG upon its formation.

Given that the new JTC will operate under the IEC Directives Supplement and IEC IT system, ANSI staff assigned to the USNC/IEC will facilitate and coordinate related activities, and the ANSI internal oversight of the TAG for the new JTC will be placed under the USNC Technical Management Committee (USNC/TMC). ANSI staff assigned to the USNC/IEC program have strong knowledge of the IEC Directives Supplement and the IEC IT system, and will provide excellent support to the TAG once formed. 

Organizations interested in being considered to serve as the TAG Administrator for the new JTC should inform Tony Zertuche ([email protected]) or Ade Gladstein ([email protected]) by close of business on Friday, December 22, 2023. Those interested in serving as a member of the TAG should also inform Zertuche or Gladstein by Friday, December 22, 2023. Questions may be directed to Zertuche and Gladstein.

Note: If there are multiple candidates to serve as the TAG Administrator, the USNC Technical Management Committee (USNC TMC) will decide which organization will serve.