Smart Cities: How standards can drive emerging technologies – International Young Professionals meet at the DKE YP Camp in Germany

Are you excited about smart cities? If so, have you ever wondered what role standardization plays in an intelligent and completely electrified society? This was precisely the topic addressed by eighteen international young professionals at this year’s DKE Young Professionals Camp, which took place from August 21 to 24, 2025, in Offenbach am Main.

Diversity that fosters ideas – positive energy and keen interest from all corners of the world

“I’m thrilled by the openness and energy that our participants brought with them. The conversations got off to a great start from the very outset. It immediately became apparent how diverse backgrounds and different perspectives enrich the common cause of ‘standardization’,” said Anuschka Wojciechowski, who heads the Next Generation DKE initiative – a community for newcomers to standardization. “This year, a total of 18 participants from just as many countries were selected from more than 55 applicants. In keeping with the spirit of diversity, every country that submitted an application was therefore represented at the event.”

The participants – all of whom who are approximately thirty years of age – came from a wide variety of professional backgrounds, ranging from engineering and environmental technology to information and communication technology, to industry, standardization organizations, and government agencies. The fact that the majority of participants traveled considerable distances to attend the DKE Camp was particularly impressive. Many of them came from other European countries. This year, however, we also had guests from Japan, Malaysia, Peru, and South Africa. The sometimes very long journeys to Germany underscore the global relevance and appeal of standardization, as well as the reputation of the DKE’s IEC Young Professionals Camp among newcomers to standardization around the world.

Impetus from the President of the International Electrotechnical Commission – networking at the highest level

After getting to know each other at the B&B Hotel in Offenbach, everyone headed to the MAMAN restaurant for a welcome dinner. The participants exchanged ideas and discussed topics in a relaxed atmosphere during the dinner, while establishing initial professional and personal connections. The evening represented a successful start to the four-day camp.

The official kick-off took place on Friday at the DKE building in Offenbach am Main. The visit from the President of the IEC, Jo Cops, who delivered the keynote speech was particularly inspiring. He impressively explained how standardization in smart cities not only makes technical development possible, but also sustainability and social change. His keynote speech at the beginning of the Camp was a first highlight for many of the participants.
Following the presentation of Next Generation DKE, the now highly motivated young professionals began their workshop sessions, curious to exchange their ideas with other young people interested in standardization.

Making the impossible possible – workshops on emerging technologies

The essence of the DKE’s IEC Young Professionals Camp consists in interactive workshop sessions in which young professionals demonstrate their skills and learn a great deal in return. There were three specific cases (artificial intelligence, green technologies, and quantum computing) that the participants worked on in groups. These dealt with practical issues relating to standardization and innovation.

The first session focused on standards research. The task here was to find out which standards already exist in the field of emerging technologies – a task that is well known to experts in research, piloting, and development – and, of course in standardization, as well as a task with which numerous projects for new products and innovation begin.

It is precisely in such processes that gaps in standardization are identified, which in turn give rise to tasks in the field of standardization. That was the focus of the second session on standard gap analysis and the question of where regulations are still lacking, and how these gaps can be identified. The third round commenced with the knowledge gained from these particular cases.

Making the impossible possible? A slight challenge for our young professionals. Thanks to optimum guidance, curiosity, and their unbroken drive, they also succeeded in mastering the third session: a creative workshop aptly named “Making the impossible possible” as well as the question of how new standards can actively shape the future.

The final presentations impressively demonstrated the diversity of perspectives and innovative spirit of the young professionals. Each group came up with its own unique solutions and recommendations. The audience – consisting of members of Next Generation DKE, experienced DKE standards managers, and members of the DKE management team – was thoroughly convinced.

Bringing standardization and the global community to life in the IEC – an extraordinary experience for host DKE and its guests

“What a great group of young people we had visiting the DKE this year!” pointed out Florian Spiteller, member of the DKE management team. “To see the commitment with which our YPs from all over the world discuss the topic of standardization is more than inspiring. And they do so without any preconceptions, despite their very different backgrounds. This is the spirit that makes standardization so unique.”

The DKE has been organizing the Young Professionals Camp since the year 2022 with the aim of strengthening international networking and professional exchange within the young professional community over the long term. “The idea originally came about as a kind of alumni format for the IEC Young Professionals Program,” explained Lea Emmel, volunteer head of the Next Generation at the DKE. “We wanted to capture the spirit and momentum that comes out of the IEC General Meeting and create a framework in which young professionals can meet outside of the actual program, learn from each other, and think ahead together. The camp brings together young professionals from all over the world and provides space for intercultural dialogue, new perspectives, and practical ideas for the standardization work of the future.”

Standardization and testing go hand in hand – yet another experience realized at the VDE business location in Offenbach, where the DKE is based. The VDE Testing and Certification Institute is located in the building next to the DKE, just across the parking lot. The testing facilities, laboratories, and workshops extend across the entire VDE site in Offenbach. Here the participants were able to take a look behind the scenes of modern testing technologies.

Friday evening provided for a very special experience – a visit to the Main Tower, which offered spectacular views of the Frankfurt skyline. At more than 200 meters high in the sky, the Camp participants exchanged impressions and took photos, while the day came to a close at lofty heights. The “Frankfurt on foot” tour through the “new old town” and the evenings spent together in Offenbach and Frankfurt also provided opportunities for in-depth discussions and making lasting contacts – far beyond the four days of the Camp.

On Sunday, the last day, a leisurely walk to the Goethe Tower was organized for those participants whose flights were schedule later in the day. The green surroundings, the view from the tower, and the informal setting provided for a relaxed conclusion and an opportunity to reflect on the past few days.

The DKE Young Professionals Camp would not be possible without the dedicated organizational team led by Next Generation DKE

From young professionals for young professionals – Germany’s next generation of standardization experts ran the Camp themselves. A number of other members of the free DKE network were also actively involved under the leadership of Anuschka Wojciechowski, project manager of Next Generation DKE, who organized the Camp with a great amount of commitment and initiative. Support for the planning and implementation was also provided by, among others, Lea Emmel, volunteer director of Next Generation; Annette Frederiksen, former full-time director; and Anna Bureck, student assistant at Next Generation DKE. Thanks to their efforts, the Camp turned out to be a genuinely exceptional experience for everyone involved.

Needless to say, reason enough to show Next Generation DKE and its possibilities to the participants. Among other things, they learned about the DKE Mentoring-Programm, IEC Quest, and the Next Generation Standardization Roundtable – offerings from Next Generation DKE that inspire and provide young people with support in electrical engineering standardization over the long term.

“With our Next Generation DKE we are able to introduce young people to the sometimes quite complex topic of standardization. Many of them participate in projects, then apply what they have learned to their work, or become actively involved in standardization themselves. It’s wonderful to see,” says Anuschka Wojciechowski. “We are in contact with similar initiatives around the world and we exchange ideas with regard to various topics. Just like in standardization itself, the IEC Young Professionals represent an international community. If we have motivated just one of our guests to start their own program, then that is a real success.”

Inviting international young professionals with an interest in standardization to Germany – a camp that the DKE would like to continue

Once again the DKE Young Professionals Camp 2025 was a resounding success, with international exchange, in-depth technical discussions, and the greatest diversity of countries to date. For the first time, 18 countries were represented by 18 young professionals. The participants returned home with new perspectives, a strong network, and the motivation to actively participate in the development of international standards. “Some young professionals said that they plan to inform their own standardization communities about the Next Generation DKE initiative and, in particular, they would like to establish the Young Professionals Camp with the support of standardization communities in their home countries,” said Anuschka Wojciechowski.

The next DKE Young Professionals Camp is tentatively planned for the year 2027. Then a new generation of young, international professionals will once again have the opportunity to be part of this unique experience, working together to shape a sustainable, technologically connected future.

The DKE is also looking for fellow campaigners for this cause. As a member of the free Next Generation DKE network, everyone has the opportunity to help shape the camps, contribute to standardization, and become part of the international standardization community.

Become part of the Next Generation DKE!

Working in standardization offers newcomers in particular a large network with many international contacts and career opportunities as well as opportunities for professional exchange. If you want to get involved in the Next Generation DKE, the DKE provides a wide range of support, e.g. by enabling you to participate in high-caliber events such as the IEC General Meeting.