Liverpool businesses to drive the Internet of Things
Local SMEs and entrepreneurs in the region will be at the forefront of creating a new generation of Internet of Things (IoT) enabled services and applications as Sensor City has been selected as one of six partners to drive a new initiative to boost the range of products and services that will transform the UK’s digital economy.
Sensor City has been chosen as a partner of IoTUK Boost – a programme of activities that seeks to advance the UK’s global leadership in the Internet of Things and increase the adoption of high quality IoT technologies and services throughout businesses and the public sector. As part of the IoT UK Boost programme, Sensor City will build experimentation test-beds for businesses and entrepreneurs to develop a wide variety of products and services which will drive forward innovation.
Working in partnership with Stream Technologies, Sensor City will implement a low power Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) within the Liverpool City Region to enable businesses and entrepreneurs to develop and test Internet of Things (IoT) products and services in a live environment.
The Internet of Things is about connecting devices over the internet, and having them communicate with us and other applications. For example, a heating system which will be able to turn its temperature down if it senses that no one is home; or, a fridge that can alert your mobile phone if milk is running low. The IoTUK Boost pilot forms part of the activity generated by the national Digital Catapult Network and will enable Liverpool City Region businesses to work with Sensor City in the design and test of ‘IoT’ products and innovations.
IoTUK Boost will look to drive experimentation and innovation in areas including healthcare, traffic and transport services, energy management and environmental sensing. As an IoTUK Boost partner, Sensor City will hold meet ups, open calls and training workshops to stimulate engagement within the test network for a minimum of six months. The aim is to work with a minimum of 10 SMEs or entrepreneurs, to help them to bring early stage IoT products and services to a commercial prototype stage, or early market release.
Dr Joanne Phoenix, business development manager at Sensor City said: “This is a great opportunity for Liverpool’s thriving digital businesses and entrepreneurs to access the expertise housed at Sensor City to enable them to collaborate, explore and develop new IoT technologies which will help drive productivity in their own business, as well as establish the city region as a national leader in digital innovation.
"We were selected due to the unique sensor development expertise of our academic partners - Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Liverpool – which will enable us to help companies with a particular interest in use of environmental monitors, pollution sensors and the ability to make social care devices, more widespread. We encourage any interested business to get in touch to benefit from this new initiative.”
Minister of State for Digital and Culture Matt Hancock said: “The Internet of Things stands to benefit a great number of people as well as the wider economy. Due to the strong interest shown so far in this initiative, we have doubled the amount of funding available to give more entrepreneurs the opportunity to test their products. Boost will help to provide local infrastructure and support for promising IoT businesses to innovate and bring exciting new IoT products and services to market”.
Companies interested to engage with the project should get in touch via info@sensorcity.co.uk outlining their business and what it is that they would like to do.
