Date: 2 October to 6 October 2017
Location: Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), Vladivostok, Russia
The 32nd Annual ISO/IEC JTC 1 Plenary Meeting, held from 2 to 6 October 2017 at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) in Vladivostok, Russia, marked a defining moment in the evolution of international Information Technology standardisation. Hosted by the Russian National Committee, the meeting brought together more than 80 delegates and technical experts from 18 countries to deliberate on emerging technologies, governance frameworks, and the future direction of global IT standards.
Anupam Agrawal participated in the plenary as a delegate, contributing to one of the world’s most influential forums responsible for developing international standards across information technology. His participation reflected India’s growing engagement in global standardisation initiatives and its commitment to collaborative, consensus-driven technology development.
A landmark outcome of the plenary was the official establishment of ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42 (Artificial Intelligence), creating the first dedicated international subcommittee focused exclusively on Artificial Intelligence standardisation. The existing Big Data work programme under JTC 1 Working Group 9 was integrated into SC 42, laying the foundation for globally harmonised AI frameworks covering governance, trustworthiness, terminology, risk management, and interoperability. This decision has since become a cornerstone of international AI standardisation efforts.
Recognising rapid advances in additive manufacturing, the plenary also approved the creation of JTC 1 Working Group 12 (3D Printing and Scanning) to develop standards supporting digital manufacturing technologies and emerging industrial applications.
The meeting introduced several strategic organisational reforms designed to improve the responsiveness of international standardisation activities. Philip Wennblom was appointed as the Chair of ISO/IEC JTC 1 for a three-year term, while members resolved to increase the frequency of plenary meetings beginning in 2019 to better address the accelerating pace of technological innovation. Additional reforms included the retirement of the JTC 1 Incubator Process and the establishment of new collaborative mechanisms such as the Tools and Project Editors’ Forum and an ad hoc group dedicated to Meta Reference initiatives.
Participation in the ISO/IEC JTC 1 Plenary Meeting provided valuable opportunities for international collaboration, technical knowledge exchange, and engagement with global experts shaping the future of digital technologies. Through active representation in international standardisation forums, delegates such as Anupam Agrawal contribute to strengthening India’s presence in the development of globally recognised technology standards that support innovation, interoperability, and sustainable digital transformation.