The Biden-Harris Administration has released the National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology, which sets guidelines to ensure that U.S. technologies are safe and interoperable.
Based on four guiding principles, the strategy is intended to protect technology used by U.S. consumers and empower the nation’s leadership and competitiveness in global standards development, the White House said on Thursday.
Through the strategy, the federal government seeks to expand its relationships with industry and academia, whose “innovation fuels effective standards development.” The strategy also urges these partners to make long-term investments in standards development.
According to the White House, technological advancements generated through research and development are the “driving force behind new standards,” and the government aims to support pre-standardization research that will promote innovation, cutting-edge science and translational research to keep the U.S. at the forefront of international standards development.
Though the number of standards organizations has quickly increased over the past decade, the U.S. standards workforce has not kept pace. In line with the strategy, the federal government intends to invest in educating and training a variety of stakeholders so they are better equipped to participate in technical standards development.
Working with like-minded allies, the U.S. government will ensure that the international standards system is created on the foundation of technical merit using fair processes that will invite global participation and foster inclusive growth.
The goals of the National Standards Strategy harmonize with a number of preexisting federal initiatives, including the National Security Strategy, the National Cybersecurity Strategy and the CHIPS and Science Act as well as the American National Standards Institute’s United States Standards Strategy.
Currently, the U.S. federal government, academia and civil society groups contribute to global standards activities. The nation is already collaborating with partner countries in the International Standards Cooperation Network and through the U.S.-EU governmental cooperation.
