SSTDC : Student Safety Technology Design Competition

What is SSTDC? Entry Application and Schedule Eligibility and Target Fields Past Conferences

★To all students and supervising teachers considering applying~
Please refer to the video for information on the [Participant Recruitment Briefing Session / International Competition Participation Report Session].

This video provides detailed information about SSTDC, including an overview and entry procedures, as well as a report from last year's winning team about their participation in the international tournament. We hope it will be helpful in your consideration of participating.

[Participant Recruitment Briefing / International Competition Participation Report Meeting] Event Video

What is the Student Safety Technology Design Competition (SSTDC)?

Scenes from last year's event (video, with sound)

■ The "Safety Technology Idea Competition" will determine the top student in automotive and mobility safety research!

This is a comprehensive competition where teams of university and graduate students present their independently devised safety technology ideas and compete based on their novelty, potential for development, and practicality.
The final competition involves demonstrations and presentations using functional models (scale models, prototypes, and models in simulation environments), requiring not only ideas but also technical backing and verification.

■ Participating students will have numerous opportunities to interact and consult with various automobile manufacturers!

The judging for the preliminary and final rounds will be conducted by safety technology engineers and researchers from automobile manufacturers and research institutes. They will ask questions based on their experience in development and research settings, and provide advice for further development of the students' innovative ideas.
In addition, we hold numerous company exchange events and company tours where students can consult with various automobile manufacturers about technology and research ideas, as well as their future career paths.
For students engaged in safety research, this is a unique and invaluable opportunity to learn about the current state of automotive development and research, as well as the industry as a whole.

■The winning team will be sent to an international tournament every other year!

The international competition has been held biennially since 2005 as part of the student program of the "ESV International Conference," one of the world's largest international conferences on automotive and mobility safety technologies. Each time, representative schools that have won regional qualifiers around the world gather for the event.
The next international tournament is scheduled for 2028. The winning team of the 2026 Japan tournament will be granted a seeded entry into the 2027 Japan tournament finals, and the winning team of the 2027 tournament will be sent as the Japanese representative to the international tournament scheduled for 2028.
(Reference) 2026 International Tournament Official Website

SSTDC : Student Safety Technology Design Competition

NEWS

Past news articles can be found here.

Event Outline

Competition name: 2026 Student Safety Technology Design Competition (SSTDC) Japan Competition

Organized by: Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan
Sponsored (planned): Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Sponsors (planned): National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, National Institute for Traffic Safety and Environment, Japan Agency for Automotive Safety and Technology
Organized by: Student Safety Technology Design Competition Promotion Committee
Awards: The winning team will be awarded by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (planned).

Event dates and venue

  • Safety Technology Idea Proposal Review Meeting (Selection of Teams to Advance to the Finals)
    　Schedule Friday, August 2026, 10
    　Venue: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tokyo Waterfront Center (Tokyo)
  • Japan Tournament Final
    　Date: Monday, January 18, 2027
    　Venue: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tokyo Waterfront Center (Tokyo)

Related matters

  • Opportunities for interaction between students and automobile manufacturers will be held concurrently on the days of the proposal review and the Japan National Finals.
  • Support funds for the development of "functional models" (production subsidies) will be provided to teams that advance to the finals of the Japanese competition.
  • The winning team of the Japan tournament will receive priority entry into the 2027 national championships.
    *The winning team of the 2027 season will be sent to the SSTDC International Tournament (planned).

Contact Us

Student Safety Technology Design Competition Secretariat
Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Development and Exchange Division
102-0076 Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 10-2
TEL：03-3262-8214

Handling of Personal Information

Disclaimer

  • Due to weather, unforeseen circumstances, unavoidable operational circumstances, or the organizer's convenience, the judging content or schedule may be changed or canceled without prior notice.
  • The organizers, supporting, cooperating and sponsoring companies and organizations will not be held responsible for any accidents or damages that occur during participation in the tournament.
  • The organizer may cancel the event without prior notice.
  • Photography and videography will be conducted by the organizers and media outlets authorized by the organizers during this event. The photographs and videos taken may be used in event reports, on the official website, on social media, in future event announcements, and in other reporting materials. Please note that participants may appear in these images and videos. Furthermore, the copyright and portrait rights of the captured materials will belong to the organizers.

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