An open call has been launched by IoTUK to find three partners to lead the roll out of low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN) and experimentation testbeds across the UK.
IoTUK Boost aims to act as a catalyst for the development of IoT enabled services and applications by lowering the barriers to LPWAN technology access and innovation delivery.
The announcement follows the launch of Digital Catapult Things Connected last week – a program to deliver an Internet of Things (IoT) network to London.
To apply for the Boost program prospective partners will need to deliver a working LPWAN and experimentation testbed to support IoT innovation in the UK regions.
This testbed will then be open to businesses and entrepreneurs, to test either their new or established IoT products.
What does each IoTUK Boost partner need to deliver?
- A working LPWAN test network and experimentation testbed
- An innovation community of users through meet ups, open calls and training workshops to stimulate engagement with the test network
- A training package to allow users to get started quickly and seamlessly on the network
- Coordination of partners from the wider LPWAN ecosystem as sponsors or contributors to provide components, tools, incentives, and events to stimulate the community
- Ensuring academic knowledge is incorporated into the testbed environment, providing SMEs access to cutting edge research
- Intensive support for at least 10 UK SMEs over a period of 12 months, to accelerate the time to market for new products and services using LPWAN
What outputs will be delivered by IoTUK Boost?
- New businesses and revenue streams for UK SMEs through new LPWAN enabled products and services
- Capture success stories created via the network to promote further adoption of LPWAN technologies, and to demonstrate economic impact of the network
- Showcasing opportunities for new products and services, in realistic environments and at scale
IoTUK says it will provide £30,000 per partner to support the development of the LPWAN test network.
Alongside this, they will support communications and promotional activity around the testbed to help drive uptake and market awareness of the network, and provide guidance and support in the design and implementation of the innovation support program.
In emailed comments to Internet of Business, Digital Catapult’s head of IoT, Caroline Gorski told us how this will support in the expansion of Things Connected across the UK.
“The creation of LPWAN testbeds via the IoTUK Boost program will help build on the recently launched Things Connected in London,” she said.
“The selected partners will roll out LPWAN and innovation support in local ecosystems, further boosting the economy by lowering the barriers to access this critical area of IoT technology.”
The winners announced
Digital Catapult announced the winners on December 13. The list, which spans from Bristol to Yorkshire, includes:
- AB Open
- Advanced Digital Innovation (UK) Ltd
- Cambridge Wireless
- High Tech Bristol and Bath CIC (HBB)
- Sensor City Liverpool
- Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) Hartree Centre
The companies were selected in order to build experimentation testbeds for businesses and entrepreneurs to develop Internet of Things (IoT) products and services.
In a statement, 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”.