SMEs pitch up for '˜internet of things' challenge

By The Newsroom
Published 15th Feb 2016, 11:16 BST
Updated 15th Feb 2016, 11:34 BST
The 'internet of things' could help more people grow fruit and vegetables at home, according to Censis. Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty ImagesThe 'internet of things' could help more people grow fruit and vegetables at home, according to Censis. Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
The 'internet of things' could help more people grow fruit and vegetables at home, according to Censis. Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Eighteen small firms will this week compete to win support in bringing their 'internet of things' (IoT) technology to market.

Those taking part in the first IoTBoost UK event in Glasgow include a “Tamagotchi”-style monitoring device for plants, and smartphones that recommend tailored training and rehabilitation programmes for athletes.

The global IoT market is expected to double between now and 2018, as everything from home appliances and cars to farm animals and offshore oil rigs become wirelessly linked for remote data exchange.

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The two-day workshop, which kicks off on Wednesday, will see the SMEs go head-to-head in front of a panel of judges to win one month of incubation support and mentoring, with up to five selected for the next phase of the competition.

The rapid incubation seminars will be delivered by Censis – the Scottish innovation centre for sensor and imaging systems – along with Data Lab, the University of Edinburgh’s Informatics Ventures and IoTUK, a national programme launched as part of the UK government’s £40 million investment in the IoT field.