steelChallenge-20 World Champions announcement

The World Steel Association (worldsteel) today announced the new World Champions of the 20th steelChallenge. Wang Yang (王扬) from HBIS Group in China won in the industry category, and Ge Lei (葛磊) from Tangshan Vocational College of Science and Technology, also in China, won in the student category.

The World Championship of the 20th steelChallenge took place on 13 April 2026 in Berlin. The top performers from the Regional Championship across both the industry and student categories competed for the global title. For the 2026 edition, the World Championship adopted an enhanced format designed to deepen technical analysis and strengthen the overall learning experience. Participants were challenged to solve a new case study using steeluniversity’s electric arc furnace (EAF) simulator, focusing on optimising steel production under strict operational and sustainability constraints.

 
The seven-hour competition required participants to develop and refine their production strategies using a structured set of tools, including an official calculation spreadsheet, reflecting real-world decision-making processes in modern steelmaking. The format emphasised precision, efficiency and a strong understanding of raw material optimisation, while maintaining carbon footprint requirements aligned with the industry’s decarbonisation goals.

Jorge Muract, Director, steeluniversity for worldsteel, said: “steelChallenge-20 continues to demonstrate the importance of developing the next generation of talent for the steel industry. Through its unique combination of technical learning and practical application, the competition provides participants with the opportunity to build critical skills and gain valuable experience. We are proud to see such a high level of engagement from participants worldwide, all contributing to the future of a more efficient and sustainable steel industry”

The 2026 World Champion in the student category, Ge Lei (葛磊), said: “Winning the student category of the steelChallenge World Championship is a great honour. The competition really pushed me to think critically and apply my knowledge in a practical way, especially under time pressure. It has given me valuable confidence as I prepare to enter the steel industry, and I’m excited to build on this experience in my future career.”

Wang Yang (王扬), the World Champion in the industry category for 2026, said: “Winning the steelChallenge World Championship is a great honour. The competition was both technically demanding and highly engaging, requiring careful decision-making and optimisation throughout. Competing alongside talented professionals from around the world made the experience even more rewarding. I look forward to applying these insights in my work and continuing to develop my skills in the industry.”

Regional Champions received the following prizes:

• Certificates for completing the electric arc furnace (EAF) course
• Certificate recognising them as Regional Champions
• €500 prize
• Travel allowance to participate in the World Championship
• iPad provided for use during the World Championship simulation
• Recognition by worldsteel and steeluniversity
• Faculty advisors of the student champions also received a travel allowance to attend the World Championship, along with a steeluniversity certificate of appreciation.

Additionally, the World Champions received the following prizes:

• €500 prize
• World Champion certificate
• steelChallenge-20 trophy

All registered participants received access to the electric arc furnace (EAF) course, including e-learning content, 3D interactive models and the simulation environment. Participants who completed the course received a certificate of completion, while those who successfully completed a simulation run during steelChallenge-20 were awarded a competition certificate.

The World Championship Finalists were:

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Notes

• steeluniversity is the education and training programme of the World Steel Association, delivering education and training to current and future employees of steel companies and related businesses.
• steelChallenge-20 is sponsored at the ‘Steel’ level by Danieli, Hadeed Saudi Iron & Steel Co., HBIS Group, POSCO, and Tata Steel. Gerdau, JSW, Qatar Steel Company and UNESID are ‘Gold’ level sponsors. EMSTEEL, Korean Iron & Steel Association (KOSA), and Ternium are ‘Silver’ level sponsors. ArcelorMittal, JFE Steel Co., Hyundai Steel Company, and Tenaris are ‘Bronze’ level sponsors.
• The World Steel Association (worldsteel) is one of the largest and most dynamic industry associations in the world, with members in every major steel-producing country. worldsteel represents steel producers, national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes. Members represent around 85% of global steel production.