UK government to award £10m in IoT competition

The competition aims to benefit UK citizens using the Internet of Things by offering features covering the environment, economy, transport, healthcare and energy

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has teamed up with Innovative UK to give away £10m for collaborative research and development to realise what the Internet of Things (IoT) can do in a city environment.

Entrants will be required to submit a unique idea that will revolutionise how IoT benefits UK citizens, offering environmental improvements and economic possibilities as well as improved delivery of services including transport, healthcare and energy.

The entry requirements also ask that projects be a collaborative effort, involving at least one local authority, one local enterprise partnership and several businesses.

Each submission must include specific benefits for citizens, city and environment; financial benefit for businesses and local authorities; and must be able to operate across a number of sectors.

Those wanting to participate must get their entries in by 23 September if they are to be included in the line-up for the competition, which is part of a larger £40m government investment in the IoT market.

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."