Start-up support and plenty of new partner moves aim to make IoT work

from Start-up support and plenty of new partner moves aim to make IoT work
by Anasia D'mello
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In his latest ecosystem column, Antony Savvas charts a blockbuster first couple months of the year, involving both new companies and well-established ones.

Internet of Things (IoT) network provider, Sigfox has launched the second edition of its Hacking House event in Paris. For six months, participants from seven different countries will bring IoT-based projects to life addressing issues as diverse as car theft prevention and bird protection. Microsoft and Amosense are the sponsors of the latest Hacking House, which will also be supported by technology partners such as LITE-ON, Wisebatt and STMicroelectronics.

The participants are divided into four teams to develop their project at Sigfox in Paris from this month to early August 2020. This new 180-day format, instead of 90 days for the first effort, will provide the time to create a functional prototype that will be tested in real conditions in the field, said Sigfox. Throughout the period participants will not only be supported by Sigfox experts, but will also benefit, thanks to external specialists, from an apprenticeship in entrepreneurial skills, so that they have the basis to launch their product or start-up.

“For this edition we wanted to add value to our programme by giving participants the time and tools to deliver a proven IoT solution that will meet the necessary specifications,” says Maxime Schacht, Hacking House manager. “We also have a new partnership with Telecom ParisTech Entrepreneurs, the first digital business incubator in France, which will provide mentoring for start-ups and entrepreneurs.”

The four projects selected this year are the audience and impact measurement of digital billboards using embedded artificial intelligence, the prevention of car theft, a connected nesting box to promote the re-population of birds in partnership with the Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux (League for the Protection of Birds) and the management and optimisation of berths and mooring rings for pleasure boats.

“We believe that the Sigfox’s Hacking House is addressing an important need in the IoT market by sponsoring innovative and impactful industrial IoT projects, an area of focus for Microsoft Azure IoT Services,” says Soren Lau, general manager for IoT and mixed reality sales for EMEA at Microsoft.

Connected vehicles

Talking of Microsoft, Luxoft, now a DXC Technology subsidiary, announced that it is expanding its collaboration with the Seattle-based IT vendor to accelerate the delivery of connected vehicle solutions and mobility experiences.

By leveraging the Microsoft Connected Vehicle Platform, Luxoft will enable and accelerate the delivery of vehicle-centric solutions and services that will allow automakers to deliver “unique features”. It says these will be around advanced vehicle diagnostics, remote access and repair and preventive maintenance. Collecting real usage data will also support vehicle engineering to improve manufacturing quality.

“With our solutions and services for connected vehicles, automakers and their key partners are able to get the most out of the Microsoft Connected Vehicle Platform,” according to Dmitry Loschinin, executive vice president of DXC Technology, and president & CEO of Luxoft. “Our collaboration with Microsoft gives automakers control and flexibility for creating highly differentiated, [...]

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