IoT European Platforms Initiative: Building Innovation Communities Across Europe
Kanarit played a pivotal role in the IoT EPI initiative, a €50 million project designed to foster innovation communities around Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. The IoT European Platforms Initiative (IoT EPI) was launched to accelerate the development, deployment, and adoption of next-generation IoT solutions, primarily within European smart cities. It served as a catalyst for bridging the gap between research, industry, and urban implementation, enabling scalable IoT ecosystems to address real-world challenges.
A Vision for IoT-Enabled Urban Innovation
The IoT EPI project aimed to establish self-sustaining innovation communities, leveraging IoT to solve urban challenges and drive economic growth. Kanarit, as a key partner, provided strategic guidance, technological expertise, and ecosystem development methodologies to ensure long-term success. The project brought together 15 strategic partners, including universities, industry leaders, startups, and municipal authorities, all working towards developing interoperable IoT solutions.
IoT EPI meetings at Impact Hub, Geneve, Switzerland. Sessions also took place in Stockholm, Berlin, Tel Aviv and other cities
Kanarit’s Key Contributions:
- Developing a Scalable IoT Innovation Framework
-
-
- Designed and implemented a structured methodology to support entrepreneurship and self-growing innovation ecosystems.
- Established best practices for integrating IoT technologies into urban planning, mobility, energy efficiency, and sustainability projects.
-
- Advancing IoT Platform Interoperability
-
-
- Contributed to the development of open IoT architectures and standards, ensuring seamless connectivity between different platforms.
- Worked towards ensuring cross-sector interoperability, allowing IoT solutions to be adopted at scale across multiple industries.
-
- Fostering Entrepreneurial Growth
-
-
- Provided direct mentorship and strategic support to startups and SMEs, helping them scale their IoT solutions.
- Facilitated collaboration between municipalities, academic institutions, and industry leaders, creating an interconnected ecosystem for innovation.
-
- Pan-European Impact: Scaling Across 7+ Countries
-
-
- Within two years, Kanarit and its partners successfully expanded the IoTEPI model to innovation communities in over seven European countries.
- These communities continue to evolve independently, demonstrating the success of the project’s self-sustaining approach.
-
- Cross-Sector Collaboration & Public-Private Partnerships
-
- Engaged city governments, research institutions, and private sector leaders to ensure that IoT solutions were not just technologically sound but also economically and socially impactful.
- Promoted regulatory frameworks that support responsible IoT deployment and urban data management.
- Encouraged collaboration between energy, transportation, and healthcare sectors to build holistic smart city ecosystems.
At the IoT EPI meetings at Impact Hub, Geneve
At the IoT EPI meetings at Impact Hub, Geneve
The Outcome: A Thriving IoT Ecosystem Across Europe
Kanarit’s involvement in IoT EPI helped create a solid foundation for growing IoT entrepreneurship and self-sustaining innovation communities. The success of this initiative is evident in the continued expansion of these ecosystems beyond the initial project timeline.
By pioneering scalable, IoT-enabled innovation communities, Kanarit and its partners have demonstrated how technology, collaboration, and entrepreneurship can drive smart urban transformation. Today, the IoT EPI legacy lives on, fostering cutting-edge innovation across multiple European cities and setting a benchmark for future smart city initiatives worldwide.