Deadline: Monday, November 03 2014
The International Telecommunications Union, the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs), in partnership with the IEEE IoT Initiative is looking for the best ideas for new businesses and innovations that can take advantage of the potential of the Internet of Things (IoT) to be used for social good and thus improve lives of people all over the world.
ITU Telecom Young Innovators Competition has launched its fourth challenge in the 2014 edition. It calls for young people aged between 18 and 30 from around the world to submit ideas for concepts of start-ups aimed at using the Internet of Things (IoT) for social good in order to significantly improve the lives of people globally. Run in partnership with the IEEE Internet of Things (IoT) Initiative Working Group, the challenge opens the way for two winning concepts for start-ups to attend ITU Telecom World 2014, the leading platform for debate, networking and showcasing for the global ICT community, that will be held in Doha, Qatar, 7 – 10 December 2014.
Challenge-4 seeks ideas on how benefits from the ‘Internet of Things’ can be used for social good and spread to countries around the world, especially to emerging economies where development is currently slower due to the cost of the technology, lack of underlying infrastructure and the need for strong, widespread connectivity. Ideas may focus on methods to expand access to existing technology, such as near-field communication, RFID or QR codes, or might involve applying IoT technology to specific fields, such as agriculture, water management, transportation or other areas of particular relevance to developing communities. Ideas on developing an “Intranet of Things” – local networks of IoT devices functioning on a smaller scale to serve a concrete social purpose – are particularly welcome.
This may involve methods for spreading or expanding access to existing technology such as near field communication, sensors, RFID or QR codes in emerging or developing countries. It might involve the application of IoT technology to issues and fields of particular interest to emerging or developing economies, such as agriculture, water management, transportation, or predicting disease outbreaks.
Are you an entrepreneur under the age of 30 and interested in winning up to USD 5 000 in funding, plus mentorship, networking, and high-level exposure before an influential global audience of decision-makers?
Are you interested in working on concepts and ideas for new social start-ups through a process of co-creation?
Do you want to be part of the select group of young innovators from all over the world present at ITU Telecom World 2014 in Doha, Qatar?
Apply now at: https://ideas.itu.int
Questions? E-mail us at young.innovators@itu.int
Find out more on ITU Telecom World 2014 at telecomworld.itu.int