This challenge, organized in partnership with the IEEE Internet of Things (IoT) Initiative Working Group, will enable two winning startup concepts to attend ITU Telecom World 2014, the leading platform where the global ICT community discusses, networks and showcases its products, which will take place in Doha, Qatar, from December 7-10, 2014.
This fourth challenge seeks ideas on how to harness the benefits of the Internet of Things for social good and extend them to all countries worldwide, especially emerging economies whose development is slower due to the cost of technology, a lack of underlying infrastructure, and the need for robust and widespread connectivity. Ideas are welcome on methods for expanding access to existing technologies, such as near-field communication, RFID, or QR codes, or for applying IoT technologies to specific areas such as agriculture, water management, transportation, or other sectors particularly relevant to developing countries. Ideas on developing an "Intranet of Things"—local networks of IoT devices operating at a smaller scale to address a specific social need—are especially encouraged.
IoT consists of the ability to connect and interact digitally with physical objects worldwide by bringing together remote sensing, communication, and information infrastructures with unprecedented potential to initiate a paradigm shift in areas such as agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, and customer service. According to several speakers at ITU Telecom World 2013, its commercial value is estimated at over US$14 trillion, representing between 15 and 25 billion devices in 2015.
“The Internet of Things is currently one of the most exciting technology sectors,” said Blaise Judja-Sato, Executive Director of ITU Telecom. “It is vital that its implementation and the benefits it brings are not limited to wealthy, developed economies. Technologies such as IoT solutions and applications can have a huge impact on emerging markets, from reducing the risk of famine to amplifying currently scarce resources in healthcare or increasing efficient and sustainable energy production.”
"The Internet of Things offers tremendous business opportunities, but it also presents challenges for engineers, who must create increasingly complex systems, address issues of interoperability, privacy, regulation, and energy efficiency, and determine ways to analyze the deluge of data," said Roberto Minerva, Chair of the IEEE IoT Initiative, which aims to advance the evolution and deployment of successful IoT solutions in academic and industrial settings, and a speaker at ITU Telecom World 2014. "The IEEE is excited to participate in the ITU Young Innovators Competition, as it is extremely important to identify the next generation of talented engineers who will develop IoT technologies for the benefit of humanity."
The fourth challenge seeks participants to collectively submit ideas, exchange opinions, and make collaborative contributions. The ideas with the greatest potential will be developed into concepts under the guidance of expert facilitators through a dedicated collaborative platform at ideas.itu.int. Experts from the IEEE IoT Initiative, the ITU, and other leading partners currently working on IoT will provide online facilitation. Two challenge winners will attend ITU Telecom World 2014 to present their ideas to leaders from the public and private sectors, participate in workshops, benefit from a year of mentorship, and win up to US$5,000 in seed funding.
The deadline for submitting papers is November 3 at 23.59 CET (22.59 UTC).
