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Critical and Emerging Technologies
Overview of initiative
Breakthroughs in critical and emerging technologies (CET) can transform Australia's economy and society by boosting productivity, creating jobs and keeping Australians safe. This initiative is driving Government and industry engagement to coordinate an Australian standards position in key technological areas including artificial intelligence, digital twin, 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), smart cities and quantum, among others.
Objectives include:
- Identify and help address risks and opportunities for Australia in CET standard-setting (see our Data & Digital Standards Landscape)
- Develop innovative guidance for the benefit of Australian industry, Government and consumers (see our Smart Devices Cybersecurity Labelling Scheme)
- Contribute Standards Australia expertise to policy-making in areas of critical national interest (see our Smart Cities Advisory Group and Quantum Position Paper)
The CET initiative is framed by a typology which outlines fundamentals, principles and technologies in CET standards setting.
- Data sharing, use and management
- Trustworthiness, cyber security, privacy, interoprability
- Artificial intelligence, smart cities, internet of things, digital twin, 5G, Quantum
Challenges
Our CET initiative seeks to address the speed-to-market challenge involved in standardisation by ensuring guidance keeps pace with rapid technological development. Additionally, it seeks to create a unified Australian position on CET to ensure Australian interests are represented in international standards setting.
Why is this important?
It is essential to harness the potential of CET to improve Australia’s competitiveness and economic growth. Standardisation is key to opening new markets for emerging technologies, ensuring interoperability and facilitating international trade, as well as managing associated security risks.
Solutions
Our solutions are directed at these challenges and include:
Smart Cities Advisory Group
Smart Cities are digitally-connected, data-driven cities that harness technology to make them more sustainable, liveable and efficient. As more cities become ‘smart’, standards are playing a key role in ensuring the safety and interoperability of smart cities systems, as well as providing metrics for smart cities and guidance on implementation.
Standards Australia’s Smart Cities Advisory Group has recently published a position paper titled ‘Smart Cities: An Essential Enabler for Australia’s Future’. This paper explores the role of smart technologies and data in addressing critical challenges at the city level, including the energy transition to renewables, security of critical systems and emerging technologies.
Through their discussions, the Advisory Group acknowledged the need for a harmonised approach, built on collaboration, to tackle these issues and create cities that are more liveable, sustainable and secure for all. Recommendations were put forth for Standards Australia, government and industry to work collaboratively in developing smarter cities for all.
Key topics explored throughout the report include:
- Sustainable development
- Circular economy
- Security and resilience
- Regional cities
- Ageing societies
Quantum Position Paper
Quantum-related developments are set to produce a technological revolution that will impact all sectors, with applications across computing, sensors and communications networks. The Australian Government predicts that growing Australia’s quantum industry has the potential to add $4 billion and 16,000 new jobs to the economy by 2040.
Quantum standardisation is nascent; however, Standards Australia is taking an active role in supporting a strong Australian position on quantum. The organisation’s newly formed national Quantum Working Group is taking an active role in the development of international standards on terminology for quantum computing - an important first step for ensuring future interoperability in this emerging market.
Following a March 2022 forum and a series of subsequent roundtable meetings, Standards Australia is developing a series of Quantum Position Papers. These papers will detail the standardisation efforts that are already underway worldwide related to quantum technologies and to map the current and emerging standards needs for quantum technologies.
Read paper 1 here
Reports 2, 3 and 4 will be launched soon.
Data & Digital Standards Landscape
Standards Australia has developed the Data and Digital Standards Landscape to map standards across seven key technological areas, including: data management, artificial intelligence, smart cities, internet of things, digital twin, cyber security and cloud computing.
Standards in these emerging technology areas are enabling interoperability and security, playing a key role in Australia’s digital future.
This report provides an overview of international and Australian standards published over the last five years and highlights the ongoing work of the relevant international committees at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and their respective national mirror committees in Australia.
The report explores emerging areas and opportunities for each technological area and makes recommendations on how Standards Australia, industry and the Australia Government can best work together to ensure data and digital standards keep pace with rapid technological development and reflect Australian interests.
Data and Digital Dashboard
The Data and Digital Dashboard provides live data on eight data and digital technology areas, including international and Australian standards and the international and Australian committees that develop and adopt these standards.
These technology areas include: Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Smart Cities, Internet of Things, Cloud Computing, Data, Cybersecurity & Quantum.
To access the Dashboard, click here.
Information privacy, cyber security, and data protection standards, and how they can support your business practice
Cybersecurity, privacy and data protection are becoming increasingly important as organisations and individuals face numerous common and complex threats.
Standards Australia develops and distributes internationally aligned standards, guidelines and other resources that can assist Australian industry, government and the public to approach these challenges. Key focus areas include privacy protection, information management, data protection, cyber security and incident response.
The below resources provide a snapshot of the information privacy, cyber security and data protection standards that are available to protect against threats and support business practice.