From AI to EVs, the experts that set international standards have their fingers on the scale to shape technological, economic and geopolitical developments, a new report from the United States Studies Centre (USSC) at the University of Sydney argues.
In Standards Development Organisations in an era of strategic competition, USSC Research Associate Tom Barrett argues that China’s steady increase in participation and leadership roles in international standards bodies, amid declining involvement from the United States and its allies, has dramatically altered the composition of these forums.
"The world needs functioning standards bodies and this report explains how to reform them and support the technical experts that drive their decision-making. Its recommendations go to the core of the issue and are realistic, so it's essential reading for officials and business," said Hayley Channer, Director of USSC’s Economic Security Program.
Analysing two decades of annual reports, the report finds the involvement of China’s experts in the two largest international standards bodies has surpassed major Western powers and while ‘capture’ or ‘distortion’ are not yet evident, the potential is there. Further analysis shows these trends reflect China’s rise in economic and technological terms over the last 20 years.
The report recommends adjusting incentives and mechanisms to boost participation in international standards bodies, while refining how governments address national security concerns when it comes to discussing dual-use technologies like AI in these forums.
“We're in an era where international governing bodies – like standards development organisations – are under increasing pressure and just when they're facing this crunch, new technologies are coming on the scene and there's less cooperation and more competition globally,” Channer concluded.
- Standards Development Organisations in an era of strategic competition is now available to read or download.
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