October 24, 2023

VCAT Subcommittee

U.S. International Standards Development Activity 

Mr. Jason Matusow

Subcommittee Chair

Dr. Jayne Morrow

NIST Sr. Advisor for Standards Policy
Subcommittee Charter

2

Objective

Develop specific recommendations for deliberation of the full VCAT that assess the opportunities 

to enhance NIST's engagement in, support of, and coordination policy efforts in support of 

international standards development activity. 

Subcommittee is charged to report to the VCAT and make recommendations on the 

following, among other related topics: 

• barriers to U.S. participation in standards development activity, and opportunities for 

knowledge and resource sharing to ensure U.S. equities from the private and public sector are 

supported -- especially in potentially disruptive, fast-moving technology areas;

• opportunities to increase the number of professional in CET sectors engaged in standards 

development activity, particularly in small and medium size enterprises (SMEs);

• opportunities for NIST to work effectively with private-sector stakeholders to foster greater U.S. 

investment in pre-standardization research that is essential to standards development activity. 

Designated Federal Officer (DFO) – Stephanie Shaw 
Subcommittee Structure

3

Name Affiliation

Jason Matusow VCAT Member - Chair (Microsoft)

Vint Cerf VCAT Member (Google)

Mary Saunders ANSI and ITAC 10

Phil Wennblom Intel and ISO/IEC JTC 1

Susan Miller ATIS

Glenn Reynolds ATIS - alternate

Joshua Meltzer Brookings Institute

Tim Simcoe Boston University

Jim Matthews Corning and IEEE SA

Veronica Lancaster CTA and IEC USNC
Subcommittee Process Update

4

• JUN – OCT 2023: 16 Perspectives

• 90-min. format: 2 presentations, Q&A, 

and visiting experts discussion 

Hold 8 Listening Sessions

1

• Complete by first week DEC 2023

Develop Visiting Expert Written Findings

2

• Due mid-JAN 2024

Submit Version 1 Report

3

• Submit document to NIST

• Socialize via inter-agency process

• Socialize with related FACA

committees

If FEB VCAT Approves Version 1 Report

4

• Incorporate USG NSSCET RFI materials

• Incorporate NIST Listening Session 

feedback

• Incorporate liaison outreach 

feedback

Revise Document or Develop Version 2

5
Subcommittee Preliminary Findings

5

USG NSSCET

Feedback

Overall supportive

Overreach cautions

Consortia inclusion

Open Source Software 

inclusion

U.S.

Leadership

Standards system vs. 

individual SSO

Protect & promote 

democratic principles in 

good governance

International community 

engagement

USG

Actions

Engage as stakeholder

Long-term commitment for leadership roles

Prioritize public-private partnership 

collaboration

Address visa challenges

Facilitate hosting

Incentive funding with care

Funding for workforce development

Finalize Entity List resolutions – do not 

politicize or constrain SSO engagement
Subcommittee Preliminary Findings

6

Blockers

Small/Medium 

Enterprise 

challenges

Hosting challenges

Long-term 

executive support

PreStandardization

Best opportunity for 

proactive impact

Numerous existing 

efforts for 

collaboration

Measurement

Most essential 

need, least 

understood path 

forward

Outcomes-based, 

avoid simplistic 

context

Workforce

Development

Executive 

sponsorship 

challenge

University vs. midcareer training

Recognition and 

career challenges
Dr. Nicholas Barbosa

National Standards Strategy Advisor

Internal Engagement

& Coordination

USG NSSCET Implementation Team

Credit: NIST

7

Ms. Natalia Martin

National Standards Strategy Advisor

Partnerships & 

Implementation

Mr. Dimitrios Meritis

National Standards Strategy Advisor

International Policy

& Engagement

Dr. Jayne Morrow

Sr. Advisor, Standards Policy

Team Lead

Ms. Maria Knake

National Standards Project Manager

SDOs & Consortia 

Engagement 

Ms. Brandyi Philips

National Standards Strategy Advisor

External Communications 

& Affairs
Implementation Planning: Listening

The U.S. Government National Standards Strategy 

for Critical and Emerging Technology (USG NSSCET) 

was released in May 2023

Request for Information (RFI)

• September 7 RFI seeking public input on 

how to best implement the Strategy.

• Seeking input on investment, participation, 

workforce, and integrity and inclusivity.

• Responses are due on November 6, 2023.

Listening Sessions and Stakeholder 

Engagements

• NIST and the United States Patent and 

Trademark Office led a business roundtable 

on the Strategy on September 12, 2023.

• Focused on automated, connected, and 

electrified transportation and infrastructure.

• Additional listening sessions will be held 

across the country while the RFI is open.

Credit: Have a Nice Day Photo/Shutterstock

8
USG NSSCET Implementation RFI

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Broad questions: Benefits, risks, and challenges faced by 

small- and medium-sized enterprises

Participation: Support coordination, communication, 

collaboration with private-sector, civil society and state and local 

government in participation in CET standards development

Investment: Policies, R&D and pre-standardization budget 

to support standards development and encourage USG 

adoption of standards and demonstrated CETs.

NOTE: THE RFI WILL CLOSE 

ON 06 NOV 2023

Workforce: Tools, resources, curricula, activities to 

encourage engagement and awards for increased 

recognition for participation in CET standards development

Integrity and Inclusivity: Support 

coordination, communication, and collaboration with 

partners and allies to reinforce TBT principles
Listening Sessions: Locations

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• Listening sessions 

planned around the 

country

• Align with the RFI to 

increase coordination 

and engagement in 

standards 

development

• Updated list on 

standards.gov Completed Confirmed Planning

Seattle

San Diego

Denver

Detroit

DC

Huntsville

New York
Listening Sessions: Key Findings

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STANDARDS 

DEVELOPMENT 

INNOVATION 

ECOSYSTEM

STANDARDS 

DEVELOPING 

ORGANIZATIONS

FOREIGN 

GOVERNMENTS

ACADEMIA

INDUSTRY

NONGOVERNMENTAL 

ORGANIZATION

U.S. 

GOVERNMENT

Workforce

• Framing standards as a critical component to the 

innovation ecosystem

• Recognition and incentives for sustained engagement 

(5-10 years)

• Training – taking research to standards vs bootcamps 

and skill development

R&D Coordination

• Technology convergence is a unique challenge

• Interagency coordination of CET programs and credit 

for standards essential to sustained standards 

investment

International Coordination

• Better coordination and support through the WTO TBT

• Need stronger engagement with industry to define 

policy engagement

• Establish strong coordination of standards with 

conformity assessment processes
Thank you!