The 7th Students International Olympiad On Mechanism and Machine Science Successfully Held at Shendong University, China

The 7th Students International Olympiad on Mechanism and Machine Science (SIOMMS 2026) was held on April 15-18, 2026 in Shandong, China. The Olympiad was organized by Shandong University (Weihai Campus) with the support of IFToMM China-Beijing and IFToMM PC for Education. This international event attracted 14 teams from 4 countries including Russia, Spain, Romania, and China, with a total of 42 students participating in the competition.

(Group photograph)

Professor Cristina Castejón, the Vice President of IFToMM, delivered a warm welcome speech via video link, extending her best wishes for the success of the event. Professor Eduard Krylov, the Chair of IFToMM PC for Education, and Professor Zhanqiang Liu, the Vice President of Shandong University, also delivered welcome speeches at the opening ceremony. 

(Professor Cristina Castejón delivering a welcome speech)

(Professor Eduard Krylov delivering a welcome speech)

(Professor Zhanqiang Liu delivering a welcome speech)

The theme of SIOMMS 2026 is “Deepening Mechanical Principles, Empowering Innovative Practice”. The Olympiad focused on the theories of mechanisms and machine science as well as core knowledge of mechanical principles, integrating academic rigor and practical application. It was designed to inspire university students’ enthusiasm for mechanisms and machine science-related fields and helped participants deepen their understanding of professional knowledge, enhance practical application skills, and cultivate comprehensive competence in solving complex mechanical engineering problems through competitions and academic exchanges. 

In the competition, contestants were required to answer six theoretical questions in a continuous four-hour period. Prizes were bestowed to acknowledge outstanding individuals and teams. In the team competition, three teams from China won the First Prize, five teams from China, Russia, and Romania were awarded the Second Prize, and six teams from China, Spain, and Russia were awarded the Third Prize. In the individual competition, four students from China won the First Prize, four students from China were awarded the Second Prize, and eight students from China, Spain, and Romania were awarded the Third Prize. Special nominations were also awarded for Perfect Solution for Structural Synthesis, Perfect Solution in Kinematics, Perfect Solution for Gears, and Perfect Solution in Dynamics.

(Several awarded teams)

(Professor Eduard Krylov announcing award recipients at the closing ceremony)

During the event, the International Forum on Advanced Machinery and Mechanisms was held concurrently, promoting in-depth academic exchanges among scholars and participants. Social activities, including lab tours and city tours, were also arranged by the local organizing committee.

(the International Forum on Advanced Machinery and Mechanisms)

(Lab tours and city tours)

SIOMMS 2026 deployed a dedicated team of volunteers to ensure seamless support for all participating teams. These volunteers are selected from students majored in Russian, Spanish, and other related languages at the School of Translation at Shandong University. The volunteers provided full-time assistance and accompanied each team during their stay in Weihai. 

(Volunteers at registration)

SIOMMS 2026 successfully established a platform for international communication among young scholars in mechanical engineering in both professional and cultural contexts.  It exhibited the global contribution to the education in Mechanism and Machine Science within the IFToMM community. The vital role of education and communication in the development and prosperity of IFToMM was also highlighted.