Cognicity is a part of Canary Wharf’s ‘smart city’ redevelopment. Pic: Micu Radu
An additional 12 tech start ups are in the running for cash grants as part of Canary Wharf’s transformation into a ‘smart city’.
The Cognicity Challenge, a development initiative run by Canary Wharf Group plc, invites companies to pilot their technology product and service businesses on the Canary Wharf estate, as part of the first phase of the transformation into “the integrated city of the future”.
Of the six sectors within the challenge, “integrated resource management” and “automated building management” are the latest to take on 12 lucky start up candidates for the £50,000 prize.
Sir George Iacobescu CBE, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Canary Wharf Group said: “We launched the Cognicity Challenge in order to promote the development of smart cities technology and the interoperability of systems in future cities.”
The newly selected startups will join the “sustainable buildings” and “integrated transportation” start ups for a 12 week stretch at High Growth Space:24, One Canada Square operated by Level39, Europe’s largest technology development space.
The challenge is divided into six sectors, which will together develop a suite of smart city technologies. It offers selected companies from around the globe the opportunity to develop their technology with specialist mentoring and training from experienced Canary Wharf Group executives and other major industry players, including Intel.
Full room of our @CanaryWharfGrp mentors and #startups for the mentor matching session today! #CognicityChallenge pic.twitter.com/ZVtpAeI6rr
— Cognicity (@CognicityCW) February 26, 2015
The latest companies to join the challenge will be working trying to find solutions that better use energy, waste, and water. The other sector is looking at automated solutions that can detect issues before problems emerge.
Eric Van der Kleij, Head of Level39 said: “Canary Wharf Group is delighted to be working with these high calibre finalist companies to help further develop their products and solutions. The winning technologies will be piloted within the existing Canary Wharf estate, with the goal of embedding their solutions into the fabric of the new phase of Canary Wharf.”
Already under way are projects on sustainable buildings, looking at green building technologies that improve efficiencies and reduce operating costs and integrated transportation, which aims to improve customers experience, reducing disruption and increasing accessibility and usage.
Applications can still be submitted until March 13 for the sectors of connected home and virtual design & construction and the first pilots are expected to start on April 27.
