RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – At last week’s IoT Slam 2018, one thing became clear: Research Triangle Park is at the center of the discussion on how the Internet of Things will change the way companies do business.
Already known as a hub for smart cities development, life science and high tech in general, the region also is rapidly becoming known for IoT due to the efforts of tech firms operating here and RIoT, an IoT users group that has in a short period of time grown to several thousand members, has high-profile corporate sponsors such as IBM, and recently launched its own accelerator lab for startups.
“Our commitment is to base our efforts out of the Research Triangle, and in the process help to further position North Carolina as a Global IoT Center of Excellence,” said IoT Community Executive Director David Hill.
IoT Community hosted the event at RTP headquarters. Over two days, leaders from around the world discussed the importance of IoT, data analytics and artificial intelligence to the future of business.
At the center of the discussion were North Carolina’s SAS and NC RIoT.
Tom Snyder, RIoT executive director
“Data without analytics is value not yet realized,” said Oliver Schabenberger, executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief technology officer at SAS. “Analytics is the key to getting insight.”
For NC Riot’s Tom Snyder, the most important element to a successful IoT program is understanding the problem you want to solve.
“IoT is taking us back to fundamentals,” said Snyder. “Today it is about solving problems. Can now solve problems in new ways.”
The leadership the region is taking on IoT is making a difference.
SAS has become a go-to partner for cities wanting to become smarter. Earlier this month, it hosted the Town of Cary’s Smart Readiness Workshop. Earlier this year, the Town received a grant from the Smart Cities Council.
SAS has been helping the Town of Cary analyze its data to improve services for resident and encouraged the Town to apply for the grant. Read more here.
And the IoT surge continues from a Triangle perspective.
RIoT next week will take its expertise to Washington, D.C. where it will hold a workshop for the Department of Defense.
