TRASFORMATORI E FLUIDI ISOLANTI

IEC Vice-President Vimal Mahendru has been the Chair of the Standardization Management Board (SMB) since January 2023. He give us his insights on what the future spells out for the IEC and the challenges ahead.

The SMB is focusing on the future of standardization for the IEC. Can you tell us more about what is envisioned?

Any kind of future-gazing is fraught with the pitfalls of multiple assumptions. I therefore tread with caution. However, the fact is that the pace of change is turbo-charged, and in 2040, we will be looking at a very different technological operating environment. Consequently, the SMB is looking at how we can be pivotal, a driving force for emerging tech in 15 years from now. The questions we are trying to answer are these: By 2040, to enable the IEC to become the world authority for international standardization in electricity, electronics and digital technologies, what should we change now, or what should we change to? What should we be doing now, today, to be considered a world authority by 2040?

One of the things we tried to define was the key stakeholders we need to attract. Among the top five, there are future generations, industry and one you would perhaps not expect – smart machines! Yes, smart machines in the very near future will be interpreting our standards, operating with direct standards’ inputs and providing real-time, online feedback to the IEC on the implementations or challenges in implementation. All this is likely to happen without any human intervention. This is a fundamental change in how shop floors operate.

Other important stakeholders are government policy makers and regulators. And, finally, consortia.

Based on this evaluation of the future, what is the SMB now planning?

Among the many projects we agreed upon during our recent meetings in Geneva, two were seen as priorities. The first one is about visualizing how the future standards development process would be, and what we can do today to adapt to it. We have started to elaborate a vision for that and one which hopefully will enable us to develop standards faster, in line with the rapidity of emerging tech.

The second is the need to look at our standardization structure. We continue to be product-centric in our standardization organization – we have technical committees for transformers, switchgear, cables, and so on. We believe that the future is more about systems and solutions. Products are becoming increasingly commoditized. Consumers of the future will need a holistic solution to a problem. They really do not need to know if it is dependent on a specific component of any electrical network, for instance. Another example is how do we develop a comprehensive portfolio for power generation as a system and not as separate hydropower, wind or solar-based committees.

Are the UN Sustainable Development Goals still one of your priorities?

Absolutely and emphatically, yes. There is no other option. We can’t be half sustainable – either we are, or we are not. And not being sustainable is not an option. As we move to the future, I visualize a rationalization of our standardization structure and processes. The future of the IEC lies in standardizing technologies that address sustainability. I must emphasize that the future requires only sustainable technologies.

Is one of the challenges getting more countries to become fully participating members?

Yes, it is a focus. If we really want to be a world authority by 2040, we have to do a better job of listening to the whole global community, and that includes economies that are emerging or still developing. For example, the IEC has many countries that are affiliated to IEC Standards but have no influence on the development of those standards. We have to listen to these voices, regardless of their economic standing. Every economy in the world today is using electricity, electronics, digital communications and technologies. As a result, 99,9% of the people on the planet are impacted by IEC work. That is a tremendous responsibility, which we have to be worthy of. We have a calling, and we have to deliver on this.

How important is the work for gender responsive standards in the SMB?

I must admit that we have not addressed gender matters adequately. All the research we used in the past 120 years was based on men and their morphologies, their requirements. Whether it was muscle power required to switch on certain electrical machines, or how bodies react to electric shock, protective equipment – all that was based on the male anatomy and male requirements. It totally ignored the gender mix. But with more and more women entering technical professions, we started to realize that we needed to address gender. The good thing is, the work has started. It is an ongoing process, and I sincerely hope that in the future our standards will address the needs of both genders. We want IEC Standards to deliver value across the whole gender spectrum.

We also have to encourage more women to take part in the standardization process, to take on key roles in the technical community and also in governance. We are definitely not putting this issue on the back burner. Every year, we look at the number of women in technical committees and we address ways to improve the metrics. It is front and centre of the conversation. One of the problems is that experts are nominated by our national committees and we really must get the message through that they need to nominate more women for technical work and IEC governance.

How are the IEC and ISO working together to meet the future challenges of standardization?

There is an emerging strategic alignment between the IEC and ISO. While these are two separate organizations, we are very keen to steer them in tandem, but independently. This is the best way to serve the technical experts who write standards and the global body of standards users. The two organizations have separate visions and stakeholders, but they jointly work on the Directives (the IEC and ISO rulebook on standards development processes) and on areas of standardization to avoid duplication and also ensure that there are no gaps where standards could be needed.

Further, the SMB and the TMB (the Technical Management Board of ISO) meet together once a year. Over the past several years, these joint meetings have been instrumental in helping build greater empathy between us and leveraging each other’s unique strengths. We recently met in Geneva in June 2025. Three things were at the top of our agenda. The first was the Digital Product Passport, an important topic which impacts the global community. The second was standardization of key aspects of the Metaverse. The two organizations have set up a joint standards evaluation group (SEG) and we are currently deliberating on what structure should be created to carry forward the standardization work in these areas.

The third point was the alignment of the Directives. Over the past few decades, due to the nature of standardization work, the IEC and ISO and their joint technical committee, JTC 1, have had different versions. Last year, we started aligning them completely in order to harmonize the standardization environment and processes across the entire global pool of experts. This has gained overwhelming support from technical experts across the world.

Can you say a few words about the Digital Product Passport (DPP) and why it is so important?

Just to give you an example: if you buy an iPhone in India, which says “Made in India”, how can you be sure that all components are made in India? Or even the raw materials? What parts really originate in India? The supply chain is becoming more and more complex, and companies are becoming nimbler to leverage locational advantages from around the world. It is becoming increasingly important for governments to regulate their markets based on country of origin, waste management, banning of child labour, and so on. You start by understanding and knowing where each component comes from, tracking its origins and tagging it at each stage. This is being enabled through the digital product passport standards catalogue. It is a whole group of standards, and I am delighted that the IEC and ISO are taking the joint lead in this important area.

In the SMB, we anticipate that there might be a need for a joint technical committee between the IEC and ISO on DPP, as work is already underway in both organizations.

How has becoming SMB Chair impacted you on a personal level?

Haha, in a very positive manner! As a person, I have always enjoyed meeting people from different cultures. I can’t think of a better place than the IEC to come across people from 170 different countries. And becoming the SMB Chair has meant immense personal growth. I feel that, although I started out as an engineer, I am increasingly becoming a technology “diplomat” and the work I am doing is about building bridges between communities, bringing people together and finding consensus. Seeking solutions that are best for everyone, for the entire humanity, is now my calling. I call it Vimal 2.0!

Any words about the next IEC GM in India?

This is straight from the heart: prepare to be awed and surprised! The common phrase we share in India is “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”. The literal translation is “the world is one family”. While you will see India’s technological advancements and prowess, you will also witness India’s all-welcoming hospitality and warmth on display.

Everything will tickle your senses in new ways – from the sounds, colours, tastes, smells and textures to the conferences, workshops and sumptuous evening plans. It will wow you in new and inspiring ways. This is the beauty of India. Like I love to say, never a dull moment, never a quiet moment and never a private moment!

Vimal Mahendru began his three-year term as IEC Vice-President and Chair of the Standardization Management Board (SMB) on 1 January 2023. He is currently also the IEC Special Envoy for UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs); member of the IEC Board Task Force on UN SDGs; Member of the IEC Business Advisory Committee (BAC); and Chair, Convenor or Co-Convener for several SMB related boards, strategic groups, and ad hoc groups. He is also Chair of the IEC Systems Committee for Low Voltage Direct Current for Electricity Access (SyC LVDC). Additionally, Vimal Mahendru is currently the CEO of Valuon Strategic, a management advisory company; member of the Electrotechnical Divisional Council of the Bureau of Indian Standards, Government of India, and actively engaged with governance at the Indian Electric and Electronic Manufacturers Association (IEEMA).