US Releases United States National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technologies

Insider Summary

• The White House released the United States Government’s National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technologies.
• This strategy is aimed at strengthening America’s technology foundation and protecting consumers while promoting US leadership and competitiveness.
• The report specifically mentions the important role that quantum technology will play in strengthening the US innovation ecosystem and global competitiveness.

White House released United States Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET) aimed at strengthening America’s technology foundation and protecting consumers while promoting US leadership and competitiveness in the development of international standards.

Based on fact sheet from the White Housethe strategy emphasizes federal government support for international standards for CET, which will accelerate private sector-led standards efforts, contribute to interoperability, and boost US competitiveness and innovation.

The report specifically mentions the important role that quantum technology will play in strengthening the US innovation ecosystem and global competitiveness. Quantum technology provides solutions to some of the most challenging problems in scientific research, such as simulation, optimization and cryptography.

The strategy focuses on four main objectives to prioritize the development of CET standards: investment, participation, workforce, and integrity and inclusiveness.

To support investment in pre-standardization research and encourage innovation, the Government is calling on the private sector, universities and research institutions to make long-term investments in standards development. The government will also engage with a variety of stakeholders, including foreign partners, to address gaps and increase US participation in CET standards development activities.

According to the administration, the US standard workforce has not kept pace with the growth of standards organizations, especially with regard to CET. The US Government will invest in educating and training stakeholders to contribute more effectively to the development of technical standards.

Ensuring the standards development process is technically sound, independent and responsive to the broadly shared needs of markets and society is critical for the country, says the fact sheet. The Government intends to leverage the support of like-minded allies and partners to promote the integrity of the international standards system, ensuring that international standards are set on the basis of technical competence through fair processes that encourage broad participation from countries around the world.

The American National Institute of Standards (ANSI) coordinates US private sector standards activities, while the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) coordinates the Federal Government’s involvement in standards activities. Industry associations, consortia and other private sector groups work together on these systems to develop standards to address specific challenges.

The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 provides $52.7 billion for American research, development, manufacturing, and development of the semiconductor workforce, driving US influence and leadership in the development of international standards. NIST provides a portal with standard resources and information to government, academia, and the public, and updates on the US Government’s implementation efforts for the Strategy will also be posted to the portal.

The United States has joined forces with like-minded partners in the International Standards Cooperation Network to connect government stakeholders with international partners for government-to-government cooperation. In addition, the US-EU Trade and Technology Council launched the Strategic Standardization Information mechanism to enable transatlantic information sharing.

You can find the report online Here.