12th Annual Sino-German Standardisation Cooperation Commission Meeting: A Milestone in Cross-Border Collaboration
China
The 12th Annual Meeting of the Sino-German Standardisation Cooperation Commission (SGSCC) was held from the 13th to 16th October 2024, bringing together industry leaders, government officials, and technical experts to advance key topics in standardisation, such as climate protection, semiconductors, electromobility, intelligent and connected vehicles, and Industry 4.0. The event took place at the Dorint Hotel in Bonn and featured a range of engaging sessions, discussions, and networking opportunities for more than 140 participants.
This year’s meeting underscored the importance of Sino-German collaboration in shaping global standards, with a focus on innovative technologies that will drive the industries of tomorrow.
Day 1: Technical Expert Group (TEG) Meetings and Electromobility Insights
The event kicked off with Technical Expert Group meetings that covered significant technical advancements. Key topics included functional safety and predictive maintenance as part of the Industry 4.0 agenda and discussions on the Asset Administration Shell/Digital Twin. These sessions laid the ground for common concepts of industrial communication and data exchange, reflecting both German and Chinese perspectives.
Later that day, the Electromobility Sub-Working Group gathered for its annual meeting, featuring expert insights from Ms. Zhou Libo (CEC) on vehicle-to-grid (V2G) standards, and Mr. Tan Yi (BYD) on Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology. The group also examined EV battery recycling and charging infrastructure, with contributions from Mr. Qin Chao (TELD) and Mr. Tongzhu Zhang (CATARC), outlining both German and Chinese approaches to electromobility.
The official dinner of the Sub-Working Groups headed by Ms. Hua SUN (SAMR/SAC), Dr. Thomas Zielke (BMWK) as well as Dr. Michael Stephan (DIN) concluded the first day.
Day 2: Annual Meetings of the Sub-Working Groups Automated and Connected Driving and Industry 4.0
The second day featured a deep dive into Intelligent and Connected Vehicles (ICV). Opening remarks from Thomas Frisch (BMWK) and Wang Yu (SAMR) set the stage for productive discussions. The programme included:
- Mr. Sun Hang (CATARC) sharing insights on China’s progress in ICV standards. Thorsten Leonhard (CARIAD) and Richard Krüger (BMW) presenting the German perspective on the handling of ICV-related standards. Zhao Xin (HESAI) discussing advancements in automotive perception sensors.
Conversations later focused on the revision of ISO 26262 and ISO 21448, presented by Andreas Knapp (Mercedes-Benz) and Matthias Maihöfer (Schaeffler).
The Industry 4.0/Intelligent Manufacturing Sub-Working Group session, moderated by Ms. Nina Stock (BMWK), followed with in-depth discussions on IT security, network communication, and the Asset Administration Shell/Digital Twin, with speakers including Dr. Anja Simon (LNI 4.0) and Detlef Tenhagen (HARTING).
That evening, attendees enjoyed an official dinner on a Rhine cruise, fostering a unique atmosphere for informal dialogue and networking against the backdrop of the scenic Rhine.
Day 3: The 12th Plenary Session – A Focus on Cooperation
The event culminated with the 12th Plenary Session of the SGSCC, a key platform for Sino-German dialogue on standardisation. The session, moderated by Dr. Thomas Zielke (BMWK), began with opening remarks from Dr. Thomas Zielke, SUN Hua (SAMR), LIU Jun (SAMR/SAC), Christoph Winterhalter (DIN), and Florian Spiteller (DKE).
A keynote from Dr. Betty Xu (SESEC) provided an insightful overview of the EU’s perspective on standardisation, emphasizing the role of cooperation in advancing global standards. This was followed by updates on recent developments in standardisation policy in both countries, presented by Dr. Julia Barde (BMWK) and a Wang Yu from SAMR.
The morning session further highlighted the results from sub-working groups which were then formally acknowledged by a signing ceremony of the joint reports.
Following DIN, DKE and SAC presented the developments concerning standing SGSCC topics such as AI in medical devices or battery recycling and introduced new cooperation topics such as hydrogen or semiconductors. Thomas Frisch (BMWK) also delivered an update on decarbonisation in the automotive supply chain, emphasizing the critical role of standards in achieving sustainability goals.
The meeting concluded in the afternoon with closing remarks from Dr. Thomas Zielke (BMWK) and SUN Hua (SAMR/SAC), signaling the importance of continued collaboration and the development of harmonised international standards to support technological innovation and sustainability.
Looking Forward: Strengthening the Sino-German Standardisation Partnership
The 12th Annual Sino-German Standardisation Cooperation Commission Meeting reaffirmed the deep partnership between Germany and China in shaping the future of global standards. The discussions and agreements forged during this event will continue to impact key sectors such as electromobility, intelligent vehicles, and Industry 4.0.
As we look ahead, it’s clear that the collaboration between these two nations will be pivotal in addressing the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly evolving global landscape.