ILNAS Has Recently Established A National Standardization Commission For “Quantum Technologies”

Following the publication, in November 2023, of the technical report “Quantum technologies and technical standardization” and the interest expressed by the market in this constantly evolving field, ILNAS has recently established a National Standardization Commission dedicated to “Quantum Technologies”.

This new commission offers Luxembourgish market players a unique platform to follow and participate in standardization work in the field of quantum technologies. The members of the commission will have privileged access to European and international standardization activities in the field, enabling them to contribute to the global development of standards for quantum technologies.

Through the Commission, national organizations will be able to access and participate in the work of the following technical committees:

1. CEN/CLC JTC 22 “Quantum technologies”: a European committee responsible for developing standards related to various areas of quantum technologies. Recently, this committee approved the development of several standardization projects:

• Cryogenic Solid-State Quantum Computing – Part 1: Descriptions and functional requirements of modules: This document will specify the functional requirements for modules intended to be used in cryogenic solid-state quantum computers.

• Quantum technologies – Characterization of quantum technologies – Metrics and terminology:This document will establish and describe the terms and metrics used in the field of quantum technologies.

• Hybridization of Quantum Computing: This document will define the requirements, interface protocols, and software for integrating quantum computers into classical infrastructure.

• Gap analysis of current quantum communication and quantum scope cryptography standards: This document will offer a comprehensive comparative analysis of current standards in quantum communication and quantum cryptography.

• Performance benchmarks of quantum computing applications: This document will provide recommendations on how to measure the performance of quantum applications.

• QKD and PQC – An equitable analysis and comparison of both technologies: This document will offer a comparative analysis between QKD and PQC. It will outline the similarities and explain the complementary nature of these two technologies while highlighting their respective advantages and disadvantages.

• Layer model of Quantum Computing: This document will describe a quantum computer model by specifying all underlying layers.

• Quantum network best practices:This document will provide examples of best practices for implementing QKD systems. It will offer development perspectives, address technical challenges, and propose a framework for standardization. It will identify economic actors and draw comparison between different QKD implementations based on operational characteristics, security, scalability, environmental impact, and profitability of the analyzed solutions.

• ISO/IEC JTC 3 “Quantum technologies”: an international technical committee established in 2024, responsible for standardization in the field of quantum technologies, encompassing various aspects such as quantum information technologies, quantum metrology, quantum sources, quantum detectors, quantum communications, as well as fundamental quantum technologies. Recently established, this technical committee will soon define initial projects for international standards.

• ISO/IEC JTC 1/WG 14 “Quantum Information Technology”: a working group of the international technical committee ISO/IEC JTC 1 (Information Technology), responsible for the development of standards in the field of quantum computing. This working group is currently developing several standardization projects:

ISO/IEC FDIS 4879,Quantum computing – Terminology and vocabulary: This document defines the concepts and terms used in the field of quantum computing.

ISO/IEC AWI TR 18157, Information technology – Introduction to quantum computing: This document offers a comprehensive introduction to quantum computing. It covers the context, fundamental principles of quantum information, specific hardware/software, algorithms, and applications of this technology. It aims to provide support to professionals working in industries providing the technology or expertise essential for the construction and design of quantum computers.

ISO/IEC PWI 18670, Information technology – Reference framework for quantum computing service platforms:This document aims to define a reference framework for quantum computing systems that encompasses the user layer, the computing layer, the resource layer, and their respective sub-functions.

ISO/IEC PWI 18660, Information technology – Quantum machine learning datasets: This document focuses on canonical large-scale datasets for quantum machine learning (QML). It serves as a standard benchmark for QML algorithms and defines characteristics, acquisition and labeling specifications, conformance and performance requirements, as well as naming rules for QML datasets.

National stakeholders can now request their registration in this new National Standardization Commission “Quantum Technologies” as national standardization delegates through ILNAS. As delegates, they will have privileged access to under development standards and will be able to influence their content.

More information…

• Registration form to become a national standardization delegate within the National Standardization Commission “Quantum Technologies”
• Technical report “Quantum technologies and technical standardization”
• ILNAS news – L’ILNAS publie son nouveau rapport « Quantum technologies and technical standardization » et la nouvelle édition de l’« Analyse Normative du secteur des TIC »