On September 24, 2025, the Department of Standards Innovation under the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) issued an open call for projects aimed at promoting the development of ISO international standards in key sectors for the year 2026. The initiative seeks to leverage China’s standardization experience to support technological innovation, expand openness, and drive high-quality development.
Project proposals will be accepted until October 31, 2025, with the call targeting three main areas:
- First, the development of international standard systems in emerging fields. Entities that have recently taken on roles as ISO technical body secretariats or chairs are encouraged to propose frameworks that align with global trends.
- Second, the advancement of international standards in strategic sectors. Existing ISO secretariats and chairs in China are urged to focus on industrial upgrading, emerging industries, and foundational standards to improve the effectiveness of China’s participation in international standardization.
- Third, the creation of standards in cutting-edge technological areas. Technical focal points are invited to organize enterprises, research institutes, and industry associations to develop standards that support sustainable development and technological application.
Eligible activities under international standard development cover the full lifecycle of ISO deliverables. This includes early-stage initiatives such as Preliminary Work Items (PWI) and New Proposal (NP) submissions, through to the publication of International Standards (IS), Technical Specifications (TS), and Technical Reports (TR). The scope also covers the development of International Workshop Agreements (IWA) and Publicly Available Specifications (PAS).
Applicants must be independent legal entities with proven experience in international standardization, technical capacity, and a credible track record. Projects should have clearly defined outputs, contribute to global standard systems, and be completed within one year. Each approved project will receive funding between 50,000 and 100,000 yuan. Successful applicants will sign project agreements with SAMR and will be subject to mid-term reviews and final evaluation upon completion. This initiative underscores China’s ongoing effort to deepen its engagement in global standardization and contribute more actively to international standard-setting processes.
Chinese source of the article: https://www.sac.gov.cn/xw/tzgg/art/2025/art_4f8c96f4f9354c6d94a9f4e0a1bd599c.html
