Shaping the future together: International standardization as the key to safe and reliable technologies

A current example of this is the latest meeting of the Sino-German Standardisation Cooperation Commission (SGSCC), which took place in Qingdao in November 2025. The event clearly demonstrates how important continuous cooperation is for shaping complex future issues together.

Global challenges need global responses

Whether it's digitalization, the energy transition, or new industrial value creation, many of the key issues of the future cannot be solved at the national level alone. Standardization offers an internationally functioning platform and agreed-upon processes for this purpose. It ensures that technologies are interoperable, that products can be used safely, and that markets remain fair and transparent.

In Qingdao, it became clear how closely technical and strategic issues are linked. 130 experts – 53 delegates from Germany and 77 from China – worked in a high-level plenary session and in the Industry 4.0 and Electromobility sub-working groups on topics that are gaining global importance:

• Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing – from AI-supported production processes to asset administration Shell
• Electromobility – joint approaches to charging infrastructure, safety, and interoperability
• Digital Product Passport (DPP) – a key element for transparent supply chains and sustainable products
• Semiconductor and medical technology standardization – areas where international coordination is essential
• All-Electric Society – a long-term vision for a fully electrified energy and industrial infrastructure

What was actually decided?

Not just a place for exchange and friendly words – concrete and joint standardization efforts were agreed upon at the SGSCC conference.

• Digital Product Passport (DPP): China confirmed its support for the establishment of a joint standardization body, a Joint Technical Committee (JTC) at the global ISO/IEC level. The goal: to jointly further develop the DPP and harmonize internationally. Germany emphasized the need for compatibility between different DPP concepts.
• Electromobility & battery recycling: Exchange on charging technologies, bidirectional charging, communication, and safety. It was agreed to continue cooperation. This resulted in a new standardization approach for the development of a standard for discharging stationary batteries. This improves recyclability—an important step for sustainability.
• Industry 4.0: Publication of key findings from the seven Technical Expert Groups (TEGs), including a white paper on security classification for Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing, a study on network communication, and a white paper on the digitalization of functional safety. In addition: Presentation of the work plan for the coming year and decision to actively address the topics of industrial data rooms and industrial data (new TEGs if necessary).

All Electric Society - With positive energy bringing people and technologies together. 

The All Electric Society is a vision for a carbon neutral and sustainable developing world in which renewable energy sources cover its energy demand.

DKE is committed to this vision and is preparing the ground for the application of safe, internationally harmonised and interconnected technologies through standards and specifications drawn up in its standardization committees.

Cooperation as the basis for progress

DKE contributes its technical expertise to this exchange, making numerous contributions to a global system that benefits all participants and society as a whole. In Qingdao, the following were adopted, among other things:

• joint work plans for Industry 4.0 and electromobility were adopted
• strategic priorities for the coming years were defined
• perspectives were developed on how results can be incorporated into international standardization committees

This process thrives on openness, mutual understanding, and the common goal of making technical developments safe and reliable worldwide.

Standardization as a bridge between markets, people, and technologies

International standardization creates trust – between companies, between countries and ultimately between people who use technologies in their everyday lives. It enables fair market access, enhances product safety and ensures that innovations can have a global impact.

DKE sees itself as part of a global network. Our role is to contribute expertise, listen, learn from each other, and develop solutions together. The meetings in Qingdao were another step in this direction: a place for professional exchange that shows how important partnership-based cooperation is for the technological future. Special thanks go to the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) for their outstanding hospitality as hosts of the SGSCC conference.

Thinking ahead and developing together

The challenges of the coming years – from sustainable industry and digital value creation to resilient supply chains – can only be overcome together. International standardization is a crucial building block for this.

The DKE will continue to help shape this path: responsibly, in partnership, and with the goal of making technologies safe, interoperable, and fair to use worldwide. In this context, we look forward to the next meeting of the German-Chinese Commission for Cooperation in Standardization (DCKN) this year.

Standardization and strategy: Shaping the future together

Digitalization is advancing and the world is growing together. We take this into account by launching different thrust areas and attending important target projects.

Our goal is to further develop standardization and to make our contribution as a standardization organization in business, society and politics.