The term bio-digital convergence denotes the convergence of engineering, nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology and cognitive science. While the concept is at least 20 years old, developments in the area have been turbocharged by the fast-paced changes and evolution of information and digital technologies.

Such multi-disciplinary solutions are key to tackling global environmental, governmental and societal challenges. Breakthroughs in biomedical devices, artificial organs and stem cell research have been vital to modern healthcare solutions. Agricultural bioengineering or genetic engineering of food helps address global challenges around hunger and economic welfare. Strides in environmental monitoring are crucial to managing clean air, water or soil. With a rapidly evolving technology landscape, it becomes imperative for standards around the area to co-evolve to ensure efficient progress.

The IEC Standardization Evaluation Group (SEG) 12 on Bio-digital convergence (BDC) has been systematically assessing different aspects of BDC: reverse engineering of living systems, human augmentation technologies, life systems and bioengineering, agricultural bioengineering, environmental bioengineering, and bio-digital social, risk and ethical aspects.

The technology report elaborates on the scope of the working groups focussed on these individual domains, and sheds light upon some of their key findings. The report takes a comprehensive look at the current standardization landscape across these areas and identifies pertinent standardization opportunities. It also discusses various market trends in emerging application areas such as neuroscience, biosensors, drug discovery, artificial organs or even human augmentation like brain-machine interfaces.

The report ends with a list of recommendations of the working groups to the IEC Standardization Management Board (SMB) as well as the results of the Board’s decisions concerning their adoption.

This Technology Report is available for free download.