CW (Cambridge Wireless) were selected by the Digital Catapult to deliver IoTUK Boost, a programme of support to help UK SMEs and entrepreneurs develop Internet of Things (IoT) enabled services and applications in Cambridge – using low power wide area networks (LPWANs). A core partnership was formed back in December 2016 with Everynet, the LoRa Alliance™, Iotic Labs, and Smart Cambridge, which has been supported by the University of Cambridge and several high profile mentors.
The IoTUKBoost is a national programme which highlighted three challenge areas requiring entrepreneurial and innovative solutions. These challenges include air quality, transport and primary prevention of ill health in older people, and those local to Cambridge will appreciate how rife some of those issues are – particularly in the Cambridge City Centre.
CW received a healthy response from the technology community including a wide variety of SMEs with innovative technology solutions. The ten finalists, appointed by CW and their partners are, listed alphabetically:
- 8power Limited
- Beringar
- Energenie
- Enevo
- General Information Systems
- Mandrel Systems Ltd
- Nymbly
- See.Sense (Limeforge Ltd)
- The Future Care (UK) Ltd
- Virtual Technologies
Finalists will meet with the programme sponsors and mentors at an intensive one-day workshop on 26th April 2017 in Cambridge which will provide essential networking and support. This meeting will define how the programme will evolve over the coming weeks and 3 winners will be announced in October. So far, 30 mentors have joined the programme and CW will be spotlighting each one which you can read on our blog here.
The Cambridge IoTUKBoost team is being Project Managed by Sophie Peachey of Iotic Labs and all partners have been overwhelmed by the collaborative culture which has ensued.
Iain Davidson of Arkessa, Sponsor of the IoTUKBoost project said ‘’Arkessa is passionate about IoT and disrupting using best-of-breed technologies. In the IoTUKBoost LPWAN Cambridge Competition we see a great opportunity to connect with likeminded companies and to offer support and mentoring based on our 10 years or so in the M2M/IoT Connectivity business.’’
Paul Green, Creative Director of Iotic Labs commented, “Iotic Labs is expecting many exciting new products, services and solutions to emerge using the wealth of data provided by the Web of Things as we work together on this exciting IoT Boost programme within LPWAN Cambridge. We have a very high calibre of participants. From improving air quality for children and cyclists to tackling rural flood risk and addressing real health and independence issues for the elderly: these are all daily challenges faced by people not just in Cambridge but across the country. We really look forward to facilitating these projects using Iotic Space as the participants interrelate their data sources and discover other public data from the local and national Web of Things.”
Each of the 10 selected SMEs will be offered a number of opportunities including free CW membership, training and development kits to support deployment on the LoRaWAN network and Showcasing opportunity to Everynet’s extensive client list. Cambridge Ahead, a business and academic member group dedicated to the sustainable growth of Cambridge and its region, has donated a cash prize of £3000 which will be awarded to the winner and runner-up. Barclays Eagle Labs in Cambridge are providing free incubation space to the winner.
Faye Holland, Project Chair of Cambridge Ahead’s Connectivity Project Group said: “We are delighted to support the IotUKBoost LPWAN Competition. Cambridge Ahead’s vision is for Cambridge to be the pre-eminent, small city in the world - leading by example - and initiatives like this encourage innovation, disruption and creative thinking. Transport, Connectivity and Quality of Life are critical to the sustainable growth of our city and this competition is an exciting step towards this. We look forward to following the progress of the ten finalists and seeing what products and services evolve out of the competition.”
Steve Feast, Managing Director, Eastern AHSN has commented, “From a health and care perspective the IoT provides people, patients and carers with huge potential to better engage in how they lead healthier and more active lives. This includes interacting positively with their environment and the services their community provides. We are therefore delighted to support the IotUKBoost and congratulate the high quality finalists selected.”
For more information, please head to http://www.cambridgewireless.co.uk/iotboost/
About CW (Cambridge Wireless Ltd)
CW is the leading international community for companies involved in the research, development and application of wireless and mobile, internet, semiconductor and software technologies. With over 400 members from major network operators and device manufacturers to innovative start-ups and universities, CW stimulates debate and collaboration, harnesses and shares knowledge, and helps to build connections between academia and industry. CW's 19 Special Interest Groups (SIGs) provide its members with a dynamic forum where they can network with their peers, track the latest technology trends and business developments and position their organisations in key market sectors. CW also organises major conferences and start-up competitions along with other high-quality industry networking events and dinners. With headquarters at the heart of Cambridge, UK, CW partners with other international industry clusters and organisations to extend its reach and remain at the forefront of global developments and business opportunities. Find out more at http://www.cambridgewireless.co.uk
About Everynet
Everynet is a global leader in IoT connectivity, the first with a complete end to end offering, and the first with an integrated application library, and with a mission to connect a “billion things”. Providing low cost network infrastructure and an IoT Network Platform that offers world leading IP. An Innovative Partner Program that can facilitate participation in a Global Shared Network ensuring that devices are not limited by lack of coverage and a disruptive business model. Everynet believe that the two key barriers to large scale IoT deployment are cost and end device availability and work with partners across the value chain to offer a simple ‘out of the box’ experience, with networks in 10 countries and over 30 cities these barriers are already falling. Find out more http://everynet.com/
About the LoRa Alliance™
The LoRa Alliance™ is an open, non-profit association that has grown to more than 400 members since its inception in March 2015, becoming one of the largest and fastest growing alliances in the technology sector. Its members are closely collaborating and sharing their experience to promote the LoRaWAN™ protocol as the leading open global standard for secure, carrier-grade IoT LPWA connectivity. With the technical flexibility to address multiple IoT applications, both static and mobile, and a certification program to guarantee interoperability, the LoRaWAN™ is already being deployed globally by major mobile network operators and is anticipated to widely expand in 2016. Find out more at https://www.lora-alliance.org/
About LoRaWAN™
The technology utilized in a LoRaWAN network is designed to connect low-cost, battery-operated sensors over long distances in harsh environments that were previously too challenging or cost prohibitive to connect. With its unique penetration capability, a LoRaWAN gateway deployed on a building or tower can connect to sensors more than 10 miles away or to water meters deployed underground or in basements. The LoRaWAN protocol offers unique and unequalled benefits in terms of bi-directionality, security, mobility and accurate localization that are not addressed by other LPWAN technologies. These benefits will enable the diverse use cases and business models that will enable deployments of large-scale LPWAN IoT networks globally.
About the Smart Cambridge programme
The Smart Cambridge programme is collaborating with academic and business partners to explore how data, innovative technology and better connectivity can be used to address city challenges such as mobility and air quality in and around Cambridge.Through the Connecting Cambridgeshire programme and Greater Cambridge City Deal, Smart Cambridge is developing a City Management Platform supported by a LoRaWAN network taking real-time and static data from around the city to create Smart City solutions. Work has begun to pull together data the city currently collects via sensors, such as air quality roadside stations and Bluetooth road sensors, into the platform. A mobile travel app will be launched in 2017, and the programme is also exploring integrated ticketing and the feasibility of autonomous vehicles. Find out more at www.connectingcambridgeshire.co.uk/smartcamb/
About Iotic Labs
Iotic Labs had a big vision: to make the Internet of Things like the Internet, and it is doing just that with Iotic Space. Iotic Space is a place where data from any Things can interact, virtually and innately securely, to share information and to trigger events. It is a wonderful place to explore and play, to find incredible information that you knew must be out there somewhere, and then to do something really useful with it. With homes in Cambridge and London, Iotic Labs is a growing company with big aspirations to empower people to make the world work for them by liberating trapped data and enriching it with new. Find out more at www.iotic-labs.com
About Digital Catapult
Digital Catapult is here to help grow the UK digital economy by working with SMEs to help them grow and scale faster and helping larger corporates in their digital transformation. It does this through programmes of collaboration and open innovation, by bringing academic leading edge expertise into the mix combined with the organisation’s own business and technological expertise. Find out more at www.digitalcatapultcentre.org.uk
About Cambridge Ahead
Cambridge Ahead is a business and academic member group dedicated to the successful growth of Cambridge and its region in the long term.
The group aims to represent the city’s business community and its partners who share its vision, by offering soundly-based opinion and be an advocate for Cambridge to local and national governments about the opportunities and needs of the region. Cambridge Ahead is politically non-aligned. At any one time Cambridge Ahead will have up to five specific initiatives with defined objectives and measurable outcomes. One of these is the CA Connectivity Group.
Some of the largest and most influential organisations in the Cambridge region make up Cambridge Ahead’s membership, including ARM, AstraZeneca, Addenbrookes and Marshall of Cambridge. For more information visit http://www.cambridgeahead.co.uk
About Eastern Academic Health Science Network
Eastern Academic Health Science Network is one of 15 Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) set up to spread innovation at pace and scale across the healthcare system – in order to achieve the ultimate goals of both improving health and generating economic growth. For more info visit http://www.eahsn.org/