China Leads the Way in Metaverse Standardization with Tech Industry Giants

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in China has taken a significant step in establishing standards for the burgeoning metaverse sector by convening a panel of 60 experts, including representatives from major technology companies such as Huawei, Tencent, and Baidu. This initiative aims to position China as a leader in global technology innovation.

The working group comprises experts from the private sector, government officials, and academic researchers, and has been tasked with the crucial responsibility of developing, maintaining, and promoting industry standards for the metaverse. The MIIT has underscored the necessity for standard regulation to ensure the healthy and orderly development of the metaverse industry, while addressing ethical and security challenges.

The panel of experts involved in this initiative includes top executives from leading tech companies such as Huawei Technologies, Tencent Holdings, NetEase, Baidu, Ant Group, and Lenovo Group. In addition to industry leaders, MIIT officials and researchers from esteemed academic institutions like Peking University and Fudan University are also part of the working group.

The proposed working group by the MIIT has set specific objectives, including the establishment and maintenance of a comprehensive system of metaverse industry standards, and the promotion of these standards in addition to nurturing talent within the industry. Furthermore, the group is mandated to encourage local companies and institutions to actively participate in international standard-setting activities.

The metaverse, broadly defined as a virtual three-dimensional world, has garnered global interest in recent years. This is evident from the rebranding of Facebook to Meta Platforms in 2021, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg articulating a vision to embrace “the next chapter for the internet.” Moreover, the formation of the Metaverse Standards Forum in 2022, which includes industry giants such as Meta, Microsoft, Huawei, and Tencent, signifies the growing importance of the metaverse.

Several local governments in China are prioritizing the development of the metaverse sector. Beijing’s Tongzhou district aims to incorporate over 100 metaverse-related companies by the end of the year, positioning itself as a vital “sub-centre” of the capital. Similarly, Shanghai has made plans to establish government-backed and private funds dedicated to metaverse development, with the initial fund raising a substantial sum of 1 billion yuan (US$140 million).

In conclusion, China’s proactive approach to convene technology leaders and experts in the endeavor to standardize the metaverse industry underscores its commitment to driving innovation and shaping the future of technology on a global scale. This concerted effort to establish industry standards will not only benefit the domestic technology ecosystem but is also poised to influence the evolving landscape of the metaverse worldwide.