February 09, 2024 -- 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.  

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

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.

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).