Date: 8 to 12 May 2023
Venue: Berlin, Germany
The 42nd ISO/IEC JTC 1 Plenary Meeting, held from 8 to 12 May 2023 in Berlin, Germany, convened national standards bodies, industry leaders, government representatives, and technical experts from across the world to guide the future of international Information Technology (IT) standardization. As the principal joint technical committee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), ISO/IEC JTC 1 is responsible for developing globally recognized standards that promote interoperability, innovation, security, and trust across the digital ecosystem.
Anupam Agrawal participated in the 42nd JTC 1 Plenary Meeting, engaging with the international standards community on emerging technologies and the strategic direction of global IT standardization. His participation reflected a continued commitment to contributing to international collaboration in areas that underpin the development of secure, interoperable, and future-ready digital infrastructure.
The 2023 plenary reviewed the progress of JTC 1’s extensive portfolio of standards spanning artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, privacy, Internet of Things (IoT), digital twins, biometrics, blockchain and distributed ledger technologies, IT governance, data management, software engineering, and consumer technologies. Delegates evaluated ongoing work programmes across JTC 1 subcommittees while considering new initiatives designed to address rapidly evolving technological and regulatory landscapes.
A significant focus of the meeting was strengthening coordination among JTC 1’s subcommittees to accelerate standards development in emerging domains. Particular attention was given to the continued growth of ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42, the dedicated Artificial Intelligence subcommittee established in 2017, which has become the international focal point for AI governance, terminology, risk management, trustworthiness, and interoperability standards. Discussions also explored collaboration on cybersecurity, digital trust, sustainability, and cross-domain technologies that increasingly intersect with AI-driven systems.
Beyond technical deliberations, the plenary reinforced the importance of international consensus-based standardization in supporting digital transformation, economic growth, and global interoperability. The meeting provided delegates with opportunities to exchange expertise, strengthen cooperation among national standards bodies, and shape the future direction of international IT standards.
Participation in the 42nd ISO/IEC JTC 1 Plenary Meeting enabled Anupam Agrawal to engage directly with global experts developing the standards that underpin today’s digital economy. Such engagement contributes to advancing international cooperation, promoting standards-based innovation, and supporting the development of secure, resilient, and interoperable information technologies that benefit governments, industry, academia, and society worldwide.