Internet of Things/ M2M Innovation World Cup Series Kicks off in Milan

IoT/ M2M Innovation World Cup challenge is on its third year of bringing together more than 400 innovators from over 70 countries. It was first launched in 2012 and has become the leading M2M award in the world and now ready to bring more innovative solutions into the Internet of Things. The event will kick off in Milan on May 20, 2014. Participants are welcome to submit their entries until November 15, 2014, and awarding ceremonies will be in March 2015, although no definite date and venue has been announced yet.

Categories for M2M Innovation competition include Industry 4.0, Mobility, Energy, Security, Healthcare, and Connected Home. Entries will be assessed by a panel of experts that are internationally known, and will be evaluated based on a set of criteria that includes innovative character, usability and business potential. Twelve entries will be selected for final evaluation. The IoT/ M2M Innovator of the Year will be chosen from the twelve selected entries, and will be awarded $5,000 and marketing support by Navispace.

According to Miguel Blockstrand, Head of Product Line Device Connections, Ericsson, one of its lead sponsors, "We are already excited to see brilliant new solutions in the competition. The last two years of the competition have showcased the ever-growing M2M application fields and with such use cases we are coming closer to our vision of 50bn connected devices in 2020"

IoT/ M2M Innovation World Cup competition is an excellent avenue for meeting new business partners and gathering potential investors as you positioning yourself as a leader in the fields of M2M solutions and the Internet of Things. This competition provides both the innovations and innovators substantial exposure and market attention, with regional and global media partners as its strategic marketing arm. It is also a great opportunity to get in touch with major players in the market and benefit from a global network of developers, solutions provider and investors.

LeadingQuest and Parlacom Brazil, headed by its CEO, Clovis Lacerda, encourages innovators all over Brazil to participate in this event as it will bring more potential revenue for the Brazilian Market. "This is an excellent venue for local players in Brazil to showcase top inventions and innovative M2M solutions to an international audience, not only to get recognized but to to attract a much bigger network, where Brazilian players can greatly benefit from.", Mr. Lacerda further mentioned.

Paulo Bernando of the Ministry of Communications had previously mentioned, recent tax cuts on M2m terminals and devices will help advance the M2M market in Brazil, which had grown nearly 40% in the last three years. Mr. Lacerda agrees that with more Brazilian innovators coming out in the open with more revolutionary M2M solutions, the growth rate of M2M devices in the region could triple in number.

With the success of the last two series, Innovation World Cup Series, once again teams up with Ericsson and Swisscom for the said event, together with other sponsors Intel, Telit Wireless Solutions and VARTA Microbattery. Innovation World Cup Series has also partnered with m2mapps and other media partners such as Wearable Technologies AG, Continua Health Alliance, m2m forum 2014, TAITRA, Team Cote D'Azur, Innovative City, Com4Innov, CSEM, AlpICT, Cluster 55, Plug and Play Tech Center, Engerati, M2M World News, and m2m Alliance.

"We are committed to staying close to the developments and trends in the area IoT/M2M based innovation. The IoT/M2M World Cup assist us in identifying key industry innovators, and where it makes sense, to help promote them through joint cooperation," says Gerhard Schedler, Head of M2M Centre of Competence, Swisscom.