Calling IoT Startups

Internet of Things World Forum Steering Committee Brings Back the Innovation Grand Challenge

SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwired - May 12, 2015) - During an event on May 12 at Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) Headquarters in San Jose, California, the Internet of Things World Forum (IoTWF) Steering Committee announced the second Innovation Grand Challenge and finalized the objectives and success criteria for this year's upcoming plenary event in December. Following last year's successful IoTWF in Chicago, Illinois, Cisco is proud to host this year's event in a burgeoning Middle East market ripe for innovation -- Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Taking place December 6-8 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the IoTWF will bring together global thought leaders, vertical industry and academic professionals, government officials, and technology innovators to discuss the growth and advantages of IoT in the region as it develops into a Smart City, as well as the greater global impact of IoT.

Aiming for Dubai to become one of the world's best-connected and smartest cities by 2017, city officials enacted the Dubai Smart City Initiative to help public and private businesses in the city add a predicted value of $4.87 billion through IoE technologies by 2019. In choosing the city to host this year's event, the IoTWF Steering Committee will showcase Dubai as a Smart City leader and allow attendees to see firsthand how IoT and IoE technology is poised to transform the region and impact industries on a global scale, including manufacturing, transportation, energy, healthcare, education and government.

Cisco Innovation Grand Challenge

To further demonstrate its ongoing commitment to drive IoT innovations, Cisco is kicking off the second Innovation Grand Challenge for startup businesses. This global competition aims to promote and accelerate the adoption of breakthrough technologies and products created by startups that will contribute to the growth and evolution of IoT in applications, analytics, management, security and connectivity.

Applications for this year's Innovation Grand Challenge can be submitted starting Monday, June 22 and will be accepted through Friday, September 4^th. Winners will be at the 2015 IoTWF. Judges will award $250,000 in prizes to help winners further develop their startups. In addition, Cisco will provide winners with executive and expert mentoring and training. They will also be provided with the opportunity to develop, test and pilot new technologies in Cisco© labs, plus potential investment and partnering opportunities in the future.