Under the guidance of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Central Secretariat, the final of the first ISO Standardization Youth Star Competition, jointly organized by the Outstanding Contribution Award Foundation on International Standardization, Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation, Fudan University, and China National Institute of Standardization, was held in Shanghai on October 22. Standing out from nearly 200 college student teams, nine teams from different universities competed on three tracks in the final for the champions, namely “Huawei Track”, “Contemporary Amperex Track”, and “Engineering Construction Track”.

With joint efforts, the younger generation showed their intelligence and capability on the standardization stage, bringing energy and hope to the international standardization community, said former ISO President Dr. Zhang Xiaogang. He stated that in the future, the competition will adhere to its original aspiration of internationalization, continue to optimize working mechanisms, cultivate more young standardization professionals, and create more opportunities for them to participate in international standardization work. Ms. Rachel Miller, project manager at ISO Central Secretariat, attended the final in person and introduced the roles and responsibilities of ISO.

This competition was composed of three tracks with themes set up by Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd., and China Association for Engineering Construction Standardization respectively, which focused on electric vehicle power battery, on-board wireless communication system and AI decision-making, and whole process engineering consultancy for construction projects. Teams composed of students from universities across the country took part in the competition. They were required to prepare project proposals and draft standards according to the three themes with reference to templates of international standards proposals.

After fierce competition in presentation, oral defense, and expert questioning, three teams became winners. The team from Sichuan University of Science and Engineering was the champion of the Contemporary Amperex Track; the team from Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine became the champion of the Huawei Track; and the team from Qingdao University was the champion of the Engineering Construction Track.

International standards provide an important technological foundation for the global governance system and economic and trade cooperation, and young standardization talents are the driving force for international standardization cooperation and development. This competition is committed to showcasing the innovative achievements of college students in the field of standardization, and enhancing the dialogue and interaction between them and enterprises. It serves as a useful exploration of promoting the cultivation of standardization talents through multi-party cooperation and stimulating college students’ enthusiasm and interest in standardization work.