Cambridge Wireless is delighted to announce the 10 SMEs shortlisted in the national IotUKBoost LPWAN Competition.

The finalists have solutions ranging from air quality measurement, waste bin monitoring, transport, food monitoring, bicycle solutions and assisted living to address the challenges in the Cambridgeshire region. All finalists are keen to support a smarter Cambridge City by collaborating alongside competition sponsors and partners.

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
  • 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 the CW 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/