Sunderland event showcases new IT ideas

The next stage of IT connectivity was celebrated in Sunderland with a showcase of new products and the announcement of several new business opportunities.
From left, IoTUKs David Dowe; artist Anne Curtis, from Shoofly Publishing; Sunderland Software City CEO David Dunn; artist Esen Kaya and Paul Callaghan of the Sunderland MAC Trust.From left, IoTUKs David Dowe; artist Anne Curtis, from Shoofly Publishing; Sunderland Software City CEO David Dunn; artist Esen Kaya and Paul Callaghan of the Sunderland MAC Trust.
From left, IoTUKs David Dowe; artist Anne Curtis, from Shoofly Publishing; Sunderland Software City CEO David Dunn; artist Esen Kaya and Paul Callaghan of the Sunderland MAC Trust.

The Internet of Things (IoT) UK Boost Pitch and Social was a celebration of the newest and brightest IoT ideas being developed by a tech firm in the North East, was held at the Sunderland Software Centre.

Guests heard from Intel’s Scott Mordue, who introduced the firm’s Edison platform and IoT Developer Kit, which aims to create a global community of software developers sharing ideas and working together.

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Attendees at the event also heard from Durham University’s Professor Louise Bracken, who outlined the opportunities for SMEs to develop solutions as part of the North East Water Hub initiative, and Ray King, from the North East Combined Authority, who outlined opportunities for tech SMEs in the region.

Some of the prototypes already tested in the North East include a system that ‘talks’ to motorists; informing drivers of obstacles on the road and advising them on how to adjust their speed to pass through a series of green lights, as well as intelligent traffic lights that give blue light services priority at intersections.

The event was the culmination of the IoTUK Boost programme, which has been delivered by David Dunn, CEO of Sunderland Software City, who said: “The North East is home to some great companies that are developing game-changing IoT innovations.

“The IoTUK Boost Pitch and Social event was a chance for public and private sector organisations and investors to discover these innovations, meet the companies behind them and find out about more opportunities for organisations of all sizes to get involved in the IoT Space.

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“The IoTUK Boost programme has been an opportunity to educate the region’s business community about the possibilities of IoT and will leave a lasting legacy in that more companies are developing game-changing IoT solutions that not only open up new opportunities for them but will transform businesses and public service delivery across the region.”

Sunderland Software City also unveiled an installation of IoT-inspired artwork lead by Dr Mike Collier, from Sunderland University, involving local artists Esen Kaya and Anne Curtis, from Sunderland-based Shoofly publishing.

It celebrates the relationship between art and technology.