As these technologies advance toward commercialization and large-scale deployment, establishing a common technical foundation is essential to support their widespread adoption.

Technical standards provide this foundation by ensuring interoperability, reliability, security, and compatibility across quantum systems and platforms. They also reduce technical barriers, facilitate collaboration across industries and international markets, and promote confidence in emerging quantum technologies.

To support the development of these technical standards, several international and European standardization committees are actively working on quantum technologies, including:

• IEC/ISO JTC 3 – Quantum technologies: Develops international standards covering the broad spectrum of quantum technologies, including quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum metrology, quantum detectors, and enabling technologies.
• CEN/CLC/JTC 22 – Quantum technologies: Develops European standards and other deliverables to support the development, deployment, and adoption of quantum technologies within the European market and regulatory framework.
• ETSI/ISG QKD – Quantum Key Distribution: Develops specifications, reports, and other technical deliverables addressing Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), with particular attention to practical implementation, interoperability, security, components, interfaces, and the integration of QKD into communication networks and security infrastructures.

Current standardization activities within these committees primarily focus on quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum cryptography. These domains are also closely aligned with Luxembourg’s Quantum Strategy and represent key areas of interest for the national research and industrial ecosystem. Examples of ongoing projects include:

Quantum computing:

• IEC/ISO TR 18157 ED1: Information technology — Introduction to quantum computing
• IEC/ISO 63712 ED1: Quantum technologies – Quantum computing – Hardware benchmarking
• prCEN/CLC/TR XXX: Hybridization of Quantum Computing
• prCEN/TS XXX (EAS) Quantum Computing – High-Level Programming Language
• prCEN/TS XXX-1: (EAS) Quantum Computing – Hardware Abstraction Layer – Part 1: Descriptions and functional requirements
• prCEN/CLC/TR XXX: Performance benchmarks of quantum computing applications

Quantum communication and cryptograph: 

• prCEN/CLC/TR XXX: Gap analysis of current quantum communication and quantum cryptography standards
• prCEN/CLC/TR XXX: Design aspects of quantum communication networks
• prCEN/CLC/TR XXX: QKD and PQC – An equitable analysis and comparison of both technologies
• prCEN/CLC/TR XXX: Gaps in IT security evaluation of QKD systems and networks
• GS QKD 005: Quantum Key Distribution – Protocol structures and security proofs Revision
• GR QKD 017: Quantum Key Distribution – Analysis of QKD Network architectures

To support Luxembourg’s participation in and monitoring of ongoing international and European standardization activities, ILNAS has established the National Standardization Commission ILNAS/NSC 03 – Quantum Technologies. The commission provides a platform for Luxembourg experts to contribute to the work of IEC/ISO JTC 3 and CEN/CLC/JTC 22, ensuring national participation in the development of international and European quantum standards.

Experts interested in joining the commission and contributing to the development of standards can contact the Organisme Luxembourgeois de Normalisation (OLN) at normalisation@ilnas.etat.lu.

More information…

• Application Form ILNAS/OLN/F001a to become a national delegate
• Technical report ‘Quantum communication and technical standardization’
• Technical report ‘Quantum technologies and technical standardization’