(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/DrAfter123)
The UK government is promoting wider adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in urban areas by offering a £10 million prize for a single collaborative research and development project that can demonstrate the potential of IoT across a city region.
This prize is being run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in partnership with Innovate UK, and forms part of a broader £40 million government investment in IoT announced earlier this year. In addition to featuring an IoT application, eligible submissions must meet several criteria, including:
- Delivering clear benefits for citizens, the city region, and the environment.
- Producing economic advantages for local businesses and authorities.
- Incorporating suitable security and privacy safeguards.
- Being applicable across a range of sectors.
Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey commented: “The UK technology sector is renowned for its creativity and pioneering research and development. This competition will be instrumental in discovering new connections between city services and their users, and identifying many more advantages that the Internet of Things could offer.”
Some UK cities are already exploring smart initiatives. For example, the ‘Bristol is Open’ project gives developers access to diverse city datasets, a 100Gbps slice of a software-defined network (SDN), and the local university’s supercomputer, enabling ambitious new experiments and services.
The UK has the opportunity to become a world-leader in this sector
While independent developers can take part in programs such as Bristol is Open, the £10 million competition requires that entries be collaborative and led by a local authority or a local enterprise partnership.
Nick Appleyard, deputy director for government partnerships at Innovate UK, said: “The UK has the opportunity to become a world-leader in this sector, boosting the economy and creating the jobs of tomorrow. Innovate UK has a vital part to play in working with companies and local partnerships to make this happen.”
Those interested must register by noon on 23 September 2015, with full applications due by noon on 30 September 2015.
For more information, applicants can visit the competition website, call the competition hotline on 0300 321 4357, or email [email protected].
Do you think the government’s investment in smart cities will deliver long-term benefits? Share your thoughts in the comments.