Commerce taps ASTM International to lead Standardization Center of Excellence

The Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology has awarded $15 million to support U.S. engagement in international standardization for critical and emerging technologies essential to domestic competitiveness and national security. The Standardization Center of Excellence will be led by global standards organization ASTM International, with multiple partners from across the standards development ecosystem.

“Broad U.S. participation in the international standards process is vital to ensuring global market access for our products and services in the highly competitive and rapidly evolving technologies and that the resulting standards are based on sound science,” says NIST Associate Director for Laboratory Programs Charles Romine. “This first-of-its-kind public-private partnership will help us advance international standardization for the critical and emerging technologies that are changing our lives every day, such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology and biotechnology.”

“We are confident ASTM International is the right place for the Standardization Center of Excellence,” adds President Andy Kireta. “This effort is at the core of what we do. We’ve been on the forefront of deploying an integrated approach to advance critical and emerging technologies standardization by creating an ecosystem that links standards development and technology roadmaps and embeds standards early in the process. We look forward to working with NIST and our partners on such a consequential initiative that can build on this model and spur public-private collaboration to accelerate the development of industry-driven, critical and emerging technologies standards.” 

Kireta notes that ASTM International was selected to lead the SCoE in part because of the organization’s successful administration of existing centers of excellence in both additive manufacturing, launched in 2018, and exo technology, formed in 2019. Both CoEs have a proven ecosystem that brings together key stakeholders from around the world within each industry, identifies standards gaps, accelerates standards development, and emphasizes workforce development.

STAKEHOLDER SUMMONS
NIST supports the development of standards by identifying areas where they are needed, convening stakeholders and providing technical and scientific guidance and expertise to help stakeholder groups reach a consensus. Broad U.S. participation in the international standards process will support global market access for American products and services. To that end, the Standardization Center of Excellence will focus on four broad areas:

• Pre-standardization engagement to encourage and ensure private sector-driven participation, especially by underrepresented groups such as small and medium-sized enterprises, in international standardization efforts.
• Workforce capacity building to create a pipeline of professionals, especially early- to mid-career professionals, who can engage in and lead international standards development efforts.
• A collaborative pilot program with NIST to accelerate the development of industry-driven standards where needed for selected critical and emerging technologies.
• Creation of an information and data sharing hub to serve as a central resource for all stakeholders involved in standardization, with information and tools that are tailored to meet the specific needs and priorities of particular critical and emerging technologies.

The center’s efforts will align with the U.S. Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology and its Implementation Roadmap. The center will also support and complement broader United States Standards Strategy goals published by the American National Standards Institute, with an eye to ensuring that the U.S. remains a global leader in standardization efforts.

ASTM International is joined by several initial partners that bring experience in marshaling global expertise for standards development, standards education and workforce development, plus standards optimization. They include ANSI, A3 Association for Advancing Automation, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, UL Standards and Engagement, CSA Group, Accuris and Nexight Group. NIST will provide funding for the center through a cooperative agreement over a five-year period and actively engage with the center and its stakeholders, providing technical expertise and leadership. Future awards will be subject to the availability of funds.