On 17 June 2026, SAC/TC124, the Chinese mirror committee of IEC/TC65 and ISO/TC30, launched two new standards working groups in Beijing: Industrial Agent Standards Working Group (WG Industrial Agent) and AI Functional Safety Standards Working Group (WG AIFS).

Both groups were set up to mirror new working groups established under IEC/TC65 in early 2026. WG Industrial Agent falls under SAC/TC124 and mirrors IEC/TC65/WG 31 (Industrial Agent and Multi Agent Systems). WG AIFS, meanwhile, mirrors JWG 21 (Functional Safety and AI System) under IEC/TC65/SC65A and is managed by SAC/TC124/SC10 which is China's counterpart to SC65A.

What WG Industrial Agent will work on:

• Participate in the compilation of strategic reports addressing the challenges and coping strategies faced by industrial intelligent applications in typical industries.

• Engage with the IEC/TC65/WG31 international standards working group and contribute to the development of the IEC 63718 Agents in industrial automation series.

• Discuss key technologies for industrial agents and formulate a series of national standards for industrial agents.

• Explore industrial AI technology pathways and draft a standardization roadmap for industrial AI.

• Research and organize demonstration applications and best practices for industrial agents and multi-agent systems.

What WG AIFS will work on:

• Participate in the formulation of relevant international standards under IEC/TC65/SC65A/JWG21 and propose opinions and chapter content tailored to the characteristics of China's industrial scenarios.

• Conduct technical exchanges and seminars on artificial intelligence (AI) functional safety, covering topics such as the safe application of industrial intelligent agents and the construction of safety data foundations.

• Develop national, sector, and association standards for AI functional safety adapted to China's industrial characteristics.

• Promote the safe application of AI in the industrial sector, while exploring integrated development pathways for industrial technologies such as functional safety and AI technologies.

For foreign companies active in industrial AI with operations in China, these two working groups are worth following closely. Since they mirror newly established IEC working groups, the standards developed here will likely shape and be shaped by international rules that are still evolving.

Participation in the two working groups are highly encouraged as the opportunity will offer early visibility into where Chinese standardization is heading on two fronts that remain in development. This allows companies to spot potential gaps or misalignments between Chinese solutions and international requirements — or their own internal standards — before they become fixed. That early awareness provides valuable lead time for your product and production line adjustments, ultimately supporting better cost control and a stronger competitive position in the Chinese market.

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