The U.S. Standardization Center of Excellence for Critical and Emerging Technologies (CETs), now known as ASCET – Advancing Standardization for Critical and Emerging Technologies, held its first major workshop May 14-15 in the Washington metropolitan area.
The workshop was attended by nearly 200 participants from across the standardization ecosystem, including industry, government agencies, academia, and standards development organizations, all with an interest in driving US leadership and engagement in global standardisation.
The two-day workshop served as an opportunity for interested parties to learn about the importance of participation in global standardization efforts. The workshop also explored ways ASCET can advance standards for CETs like artificial intelligence, quantum, and biotechnology, among others.
The workshop included: presentations and panel sessions on the introduction of ASCET, challenges and opportunities of standardization, and breakout sessions focused on identifying activities essential to advance progress for US engagement in CETs, and several presentations on operationalizing ASCET.
“It is essential to introduce advanced standardization processes into the landscape of critical and emerging technologies as early as possible,” said Mohsen Seifi, ASTM vice president of global advanced manufacturing programs and the principal investigator of the center.
“This successful workshop served as the first step towards operationalizing our objectives, welcoming key stakeholders, and promoting US engagement in this global endeavor forward. We will take information and feedback gleaned from the workshop and help us further define ASCET’s scope of work and next steps. We look forward to driving this effort with key partners and interested parties.”
As the effort continues to grow and take shape after community feedback and robust road mapping, future standardization workshops are expected.
During the first day of the workshop, participants were also introduced to the center’s branding as ASCET, which is described as a transformative initiative aimed at supporting US private-sector driven engagement and capacity building in the development and use of international standards. The effort will focus on four pillars: pre-standardization activities, workforce capacity building, development of an information and data sharing hub, and launching pre-standardization pilot programs. To get involved, or to learn more about ASCET, visit www.ascet.com.
ASCET meets the original intent of the cooperative agreement between ASTM International and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology.
ASTM is joined in this effort by several key partners with experience in standards development and education and workforce development. The partners comprise several standards developing organizations and other businesses, including ANSI, A3 Association for Advancing Automation, ASME, IEEE, UL Standards and Engagement, CSA Group, and Nexight Group.
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