NFC Forum announces new Global Competition contest
03 November, 2008
category: Corporate, Digital ID, Financial, NFC
Got a cool or innovative near field communication application? If so, the NFC Forum, a non-profit industry association seeking to advance the use of NFC technology, wants to hear from you. It has announced a call for entries for its 2009 Global Competition, which is looking for the best NFC product and the most innovative NFC research project of the year.
c”Many people are familiar with the use of NFC technology for transit fare and point-of-sale purchases, but last year’s competition revealed a wonderfully broad array of emerging NFC applications, from hospitality to healthcare,” said Gerhard Romen, the forum’s vice chairman.
The Commercial Track is for business ideas that address a specific market, business or consumer need or want. To enter, teams must submit a business case document of no more than 3,000 words and a prototype or commercial product. Commercial entries are evaluated on commercial viability and how successfully and innovatively they meet the identified need using NFC technology.
The Research Track is open to the academic community, including university student teams and research institutions. Research track submissions require an explanatory abstract of no more than 3,000 words that identifies the challenge addressed and outlines the approach taken. Prototypes are preferred and multimedia presentations are welcome. Entries must not have been piloted previously. Research entries are judged on quality of design and their creative and innovative use of NFC technology.
Twenty finalists will be announced on March 16, 2009. Each team of finalists will then deliver a presentation and live demonstration at the WIMA NFC Developers Summit April 23, 2009. Following these events, the jury, composed of professionals and experts from academia and sponsoring companies, will decide the first through third place winners in each category.
Deadline for entry is Jan. 30, 2009. Fees per entry are about US $447 or 350 euros for non-NFC Forum members and US 255 or 200 euros for members. Students and research institutions may enter for US $64 or 50 euros. Entry forms and competition details are available here.