As quantum technologies advance toward practical deployment, standardization has become a critical bridge between research and market adoption. Effective standards help reduce technological risk, enhance interoperability, and facilitate cross‑sector collaboration. Major economies, including the United States, the European Union, and Japan, are mobilizing policy instruments alongside industry–academia–research resources to strengthen their engagement in international standard‑setting organizations, with the aim of securing future industrial leadership, as shown in Figure 1.

Six International Organizations Driving Quantum Technology Standardization

Standardization efforts span areas such as terminology, performance metrics, interoperability, reliability, and testing methodologies. These initiatives are primarily advanced by the following international bodies: the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU‑T); the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC); the European Committee for Standardization and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CEN/CENELEC); the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI); the Internet Engineering Task Force and the Internet Research Task Force (IETF/IRTF); and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

• ITU-T: With a focus on quantum key distribution (QKD), Study Groups SG11, SG13, and SG17 continue to develop protocols, requirements, quality frameworks, and security standards. 

The Three-Phase Path of Quantum Standardization: Communications Maturing, Sensing Emerging, Computing Accelerating

The United States maintains its leadership in technological advancement, with Europe, China, and Japan remaining close competitors. At the current stage, international standardization is most advanced in the fields of quantum communications and quantum sensing, while standards for quantum computing are still under active development.

Phase I: Quantum Communications Standardization

The standardization of quantum communications has advanced steadily since ETSI established its QKD working group in 2008. Through leadership in SG11 (protocols), SG13 (network architecture), and SG17 (security), ITU‑T has developed more than 70 standards. At the same time, ETSI ISG QKD has concentrated on interface protocols, optical characteristics, security requirements, and system architectures, together forming a comprehensive standards framework.

Phase II: Quantum Sensing Standardization

Although still at an early stage, the standardization of quantum sensing is advancing rapidly. In 2025, ISO/IEC JTC 3 launched multiple standardization initiatives, with France, the Republic of Korea, and China jointly developing standards for gravimeter evaluation. In parallel, IEC TC 90 has developed standards for the measurement of superconducting materials. These efforts cover areas including single‑photon source characteristics, optical frequency measurement, quantum magnetometers, and gravimeter evaluation. Future work is expected to place greater emphasis on improving measurement accuracy and reliability, as well as on establishing cross‑domain benchmarks for quantum sensing technologies.

Phase III: Quantum Computing Standardization

Within ISO/IEC JTC 1, Working Group 14 has expanded into a dedicated group on quantum information technology, advancing standards related to terminology, system architectures, algorithms, and applications (e.g., ISO/IEC WD 4879). The IEEE, beginning with the P7130 series, has issued multiple standards addressing various aspects of quantum computing technologies. ISO/ IEC JTC 3, meanwhile, focuses on supply chains, security, and hardware performance, with the aim of enhancing the practical usability and industrial readiness of quantum computing systems.

National Industrial Alliances Competing for Influence in Quantum Technologies

The United States and Canada advance quantum applications and international cooperation through organizations such as NIST (QED‑C), IEEE, and QIC. The European Union reinforces quantum security standards via platforms including QuIC and ETSI, while Japan and Australia actively participate in proposal development within ITU and ISO frameworks.

• Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), United States: Established in 2018 under the leadership of NIST, QED‑C brings together more than 250 organizations across 39 countries to promote quantum commercialization and international collaboration.

• Quantum Industry Canada (QIC): Founded in 2019, QIC comprises 65 member organizations spanning quantum communications, sensing, and computing.

• European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC): Established in 2021, QuIC includes more than 100 members from industry, academia, and research institutions and is organized into ten thematic working groups.

• German Quantum Technology and Application Consortium (QUTAC): Formed in 2021 by companies including Siemens, Merck, SAP, and BMW, QUTAC aims to integrate German and European industrial capabilities in quantum technologies.

• Finland’s InstituteQ: Finland’s InstituteQ comprises three units: ResQ (foundational science and applications), EduQ (talent development and quantum lit eracy), and Busines sQ (commercialization and industry collaboration). It is jointly operated by Aalto University, the University of Helsinki, and VTT Technical Research Centre, with participation from approximately 20 institutions and enterprises.

• UK Quantum: Established between 2022 and September 2024, UK Quantum includes major members such as IBM and Google Quantum AI.

• Japan’s Q-STAR (Council for the Creation of New Industries by Quantum Technology): Founded in 2021, Q‑STAR comprises 24 major corporations, including Toshiba, Toyota, and NEC, and focuses on applications of quantum waves and probability theory, superposition‑based technologies, combinatorial optimization, and quantum cryptography and communications.

• Australian Quantum Alliance (AQA): Established in 2022 with support from the Australian Technology Council, AQA encompasses 128 members, including industry partners such as Q‑CTRL, Quantum Brilliance, Google, and Microsoft.

Conclusion

As global competition in quantum technologies accelerates, Taiwan is advancing research and development, standardization, and certification through initiatives such as The Taiwan Quantum National Team and the Post-Quantum Cybersecurity Industry Alliance (PQC-CIA), while actively participating in international standard‑setting organizations including ITU‑T, ETSI, and ISO/IEC. By leveraging the strengths of its ICT industry, Taiwan can prioritize quantum communications and quantum sensing, while establishing a structured framework for the development of quantum computing standards. Through enhanced international collaboration, expanded validation capacity, and sustained talent development, Taiwan can further strengthen its quantum ecosystem and enhance its global competitiveness.