IEC Centenary Challenge

This was the official site for the IEC Centenary Challenge.
Content is from the site's 2006 archived pages providing a historical record for interested visitors.

IEC has in conjunction with its 100th anniversary issued a challenge to the international academic community. The challenge is to write an article (in English) with the theme "Consideration of the economic, business and social impact of the development and use of International Standards for end-users at any level of business activity." Submitted articles will be judged by a jury and the three best articles will be awarded with prices.

The IEC is a not-for-profit international organization responsible for the development of International Standards in the total electronic/electrical sector which ranges from microchips to power stations, including computing and telecommunications, and their related services. Members range from device manufacturers to developers of custom software, as well as the peripheral service included in these disciplines. Some of these custom software developers are recognized leaders in their fields. Its membership and affiliate country programme bring together a total of 132 countries and some 15 000 experts around the world work on its behalf. The IEC, as the sponsor of this initiative, will direct and coordinate the Centenary Challenge working closely with IET (formerly the IEE), IEEE, VDE and The Economist.

This initiative is intended to offer the world’s academic institutions a challenge of the highest order. Prizes will be awarded for the best papers and case studies (Submissions) on the subject:

"Consideration of the economic, business and social impact of the development and use of International Standards for end-users at any level of business activity."

Successful societies have flourished by their ability to trade effectively. Trade has always been supported by perceptions of value based on standards of function, quality and performance. These "standards" can either be:

Explicit or implicit;
Formal or informal.

Whatever the "business context", whenever a transaction takes place there is always a question of "what are the standards of function, quality and performance being offered?"

During the past 100 years there have been more inventions than in all of the previous history of mankind. This unprecedented technological advancement coupled with worldwide trade liberalization demands close examination of the connection between standards and business development.

The impact of standards and standardization in the political, economic, sociological, technological and natural environments at national, regional and international levels will play a significant role on how business and markets develop.

Note: Click here for an example of the type of business and standards related issues that can be addressed. A print version of this article by Michael Yaziji, Professor of Strategy and Organizations at the IMD Institute in Lausanne , Switzerland was published by the Financial Times of London, UK on 24 June 2005 .

"As an SEO expert and contestant in the IEC Centenary Challenge, I'm thrilled to participate in this thought-provoking competition. The theme of exploring the economic, business, and social impacts of international standards is particularly relevant to my field. In the world of SEO, we often find ourselves working within de facto standards set by major players like Google. Their dominance in search essentially creates global standards that all businesses must adhere to if they want to be visible online. This reality presents an interesting case study for the challenge.

I'm planning to submit an article that delves into the unintended consequences of these quasi-standards, particularly when mistakes are made by the standard-setter. The recent introduction of Google's "srsltid" parameter is a prime example. While intended to help with tracking, it inadvertently caused significant issues for many websites, affecting rankings and traffic. This situation highlights the complex relationship between standards, business impact, and technological advancement. It also raises questions about accountability and the need for more transparent, collaborative standard-setting processes in the digital age.

While my topic might be considered controversial, I believe it's crucial to examine both the positive and negative impacts of standards, even when they're set by influential companies rather than traditional standards organizations. I'm hopeful the judges will recognize the relevance of this issue to the challenge's theme. Regardless of the outcome, I'm excited to contribute to this important dialogue and potentially shed light on an aspect of standardization that affects countless businesses worldwide. The IEC Centenary Challenge is an excellent platform to explore these ideas, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to participate." Dalia Lithright

IEC Centenary Challenge Registration Deadline Extended

New York, Apr 03, 2006

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has extended the registration deadline for the IEC Centenary Challenge—a worldwide competition for papers and case studies addressing the economic, business, and social impact of International Standards—to April 7, 2006.

Organized in conjunction with the IEC’s centennial celebration, the competition is sponsored in partnership with The Economist, the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (VDE). To date, more than sixty leading academic institutions representing twenty-five countries have registered to participate.

The competition is open to all persons affiliated with an academic institution, including faculty members, lecturers, researchers, and teaching staff. Papers authored by both individuals and groups are accepted; all submissions must be approved by the academic institution.

Awards and Judging Criteria

The following awards (with invitation to receive the award in London ) will be offered:

1st Prize US$ 15 000

2nd Prize US$ 5 000

3rd Prize US$ 2 000

The prize-winning Submissions, together with others considered to be of outstanding merit, will be published in an IEC Commemorative Publication. In addition, the top Submissions will be made available to the combined international memberships of the IEC and the IEC Centenary Challenge partner organizations – the IET (formerly the IEE), IEEE and VDE – of +500,000 academic, technical and business professionals. The winning Submissions will also be distributed and recommended to learned international technical and business journals for worldwide publication.

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Executive Review Council (ERC)

Submissions considered to be of exceptional merit will be reviewed by the Executive Review Council for final judging and nomination for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Prizes.

The ERC consists of eminent, distinguished leaders from Government, Academia, Business and the Media and will be, by its composition, representative of the world’s principal industrialized areas i.e. the Americas, Asia and Europe:

Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr.

Director, US National Science Foundation

Dr. Takuo Sugano

Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University and Chairman, Board of Trustees of Toyo University

Prof. Klaus Wucherer

Member of Central Managing Board, Siemens AG

Tom Standage

Technology Editor, The Economist Newspaper

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Judging Criteria

All Submissions complying with the IEC Centenary Challenge Rules will be reviewed and judged on the following criteria:

Demonstration of clear linkage between standardization and business development

Including references to electronic, electrical, and information technology standardization.

Originality

Providing a novel and in-depth understanding of the linkage between standardization and business development.

Quality

Showing a level of refinement that is of a publishable quality.

Readability and Clarity

Enabling an audience untrained in the field of standardization or economics to understand the key points being made.

Sophistication and depth of research

Relating the original finding to the relevant scholarly literature.

While the domain of the IEC Centenary Challenge is not limited to the technical sectors covered by the IEC and its partners, preference will be given to those Submissions that include references to electronic, electrical, and information technology standardization.

We are pleased to announce that the winners of the IEC Centenary Challenge are:

1st prize:

Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, France
"Standardising Mesopic Vision Conditions and Incidence on Light Sources Science and Technology"
Authors: Dr. Georges Zissis and Dr. Stuart Mucklejohn

2nd prize co-winners:

University of Colorado at Boulder, USA
"The Entrepreneur and Standards"
Authors: Ken Krechmer and Elaine Baskin.
University of Tokyo, Japan
"Architecture-based Approaches to International Standardization and Evolution of Business Models"
Authors: Junjiro Shintaku, Koichi Ogawa and Tetsuo Yoshimoto

3rd prize:

Toyo University, Japan
"Standardization and Patent Pools: Using Patent Licensing to Lead the Market"
Authors: Hajime Yamada

The winners were announced at the Awards Ceremony in London on 14 December 2006.

The winners received, respectively, 1st prize of USD 15 000, 2nd prize of USD 5 000 and third prize of USD 2 000.

More Background on IECChallenge.org

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Centenary Challenge, hosted by the IEC, marked a significant milestone in the organization's history by engaging the global academic community in a unique competition. This challenge, created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the IEC, invited scholars, researchers, and experts worldwide to submit articles on the economic, business, and social impacts of international standards in various industries. The competition not only highlighted the importance of standardization in global trade and technological advancement but also underscored the crucial role of international standards in shaping modern business practices.

History of the IEC Centenary Challenge

The IEC, an international non-profit organization founded in 1906, has long been at the forefront of developing standards for the electrical and electronic industries. By the time of its 100th anniversary in 2006, the organization had achieved a global reach, with 132 member countries and over 15,000 experts contributing to its mission of creating standards that foster innovation and interoperability across industries.

To celebrate this centennial, the IEC launched the Centenary Challenge, a competition designed to explore how international standards impact business, society, and the economy. The challenge was open to individuals affiliated with academic institutions, including faculty members, researchers, and students. The competition encouraged participants to reflect on the role that standards play in global trade, technological advancement, and socio-economic development.

The theme of the challenge, “Consideration of the economic, business, and social impact of the development and use of International Standards for end-users at any level of business activity,” allowed for a broad range of interpretations and case studies. This inclusive approach attracted more than 60 leading academic institutions from 25 countries, ensuring a diverse set of submissions that examined international standards from multiple perspectives.

Awards and Judging

The competition offered significant incentives for participants, with the top three submissions receiving cash prizes of $15,000, $5,000, and $2,000, respectively. The submissions were judged on several criteria, including the clear linkage between standardization and business development, originality, quality of writing, readability, and the depth of research. The judging panel, known as the Executive Review Council (ERC), consisted of distinguished leaders from academia, business, and media, representing key industrial regions like the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Among the judges were prominent figures such as Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr., Director of the US National Science Foundation, and Prof. Klaus Wucherer, a member of the Central Managing Board of Siemens AG.

The winners of the challenge represented institutions from around the world. For example, the first prize was awarded to Dr. Georges Zissis and Dr. Stuart Mucklejohn from Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier in France for their paper on standardizing mesopic vision conditions. Second prize was shared by teams from the University of Colorado at Boulder in the USA and the University of Tokyo in Japan, both of whom offered insightful contributions to the field of standardization. The third prize went to a team from Toyo University in Japan, who explored the relationship between standardization and patent pools in the context of market leadership.

Press and Media Coverage

The IEC Centenary Challenge garnered attention from various academic and industry publications. News outlets such as The Economist and IEEE Spectrum covered the event, emphasizing its significance in highlighting the often-overlooked role of standards in driving innovation and ensuring quality across industries. The competition also received widespread coverage in academic circles, with universities promoting the achievements of their participants.

This media attention helped raise awareness about the importance of standardization in various sectors, including information technology, telecommunications, and energy. It also shed light on how international standards play a pivotal role in facilitating global trade, reducing barriers to market entry, and ensuring that products and services meet universally recognized quality and safety standards.

Audience and Impact

The primary audience for the IEC Centenary Challenge was the academic community, particularly those involved in research related to engineering, technology, and economics. However, the broader business and industrial communities also took an interest in the competition, as the topics discussed were highly relevant to their operations. The challenge served as a platform for scholars and professionals to exchange ideas about how standardization affects business practices and economic growth, particularly in sectors such as electrical engineering, telecommunications, and software development.

By focusing on the intersection of standards and business development, the IEC Centenary Challenge demonstrated the far-reaching impacts of standardization on global trade and technological innovation. For businesses, adhering to international standards is not only a matter of compliance but also a strategic decision that can enhance competitiveness and foster innovation. In this sense, the challenge helped bridge the gap between academic research and real-world business applications.

Known For and Cultural Significance

The IEC Centenary Challenge is known for being one of the most prestigious competitions in the field of standardization, offering participants a unique opportunity to contribute to the global dialogue on the role of standards in business and society. The competition highlighted the cultural and social significance of international standards, particularly in how they facilitate cooperation and collaboration across borders.

One of the key takeaways from the competition was the recognition of how standards shape not only technological development but also societal progress. Standards ensure that products and services are safe, reliable, and interoperable, which in turn contributes to higher levels of consumer trust and confidence. Furthermore, the competition underscored the role of standards in fostering sustainable development by promoting energy efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and encouraging the use of renewable resources.

Details and Specifics

The IEC Centenary Challenge was structured around a series of key dates, with participants required to submit their papers and case studies by specific deadlines. The competition also featured a rigorous review process, with each submission being evaluated by experts in the field of standardization and business development. The top submissions were then published in an IEC commemorative publication and distributed to a global audience of academics, business leaders, and policymakers.

The challenge's success can be attributed to its ability to attract high-quality submissions from around the world, reflecting the diverse ways in which standards impact different industries and regions. By engaging the academic community in this way, the IEC Centenary Challenge helped to advance the understanding of how standards contribute to business growth, innovation, and societal well-being.

The IEC Centenary Challenge was a landmark event in the history of the International Electrotechnical Commission, celebrating 100 years of innovation and progress in the field of standardization. By encouraging scholars and researchers to explore the economic, business, and social impacts of international standards, the challenge highlighted the crucial role that standards play in shaping modern business practices and driving technological advancement.

The competition not only provided a platform for academic research but also fostered greater awareness of the importance of standardization in global trade and economic development. Through its wide-reaching impact, the IEC Centenary Challenge has left a lasting legacy, contributing to the ongoing dialogue about the role of standards in the 21st century.

IECChallenge.org