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444 bright ideas from 45 countries activated in Telekom Innovation Contest

  • Applications doubled in the last few days
  • Communication Services is trending theme in this years’ Innovation Contest

In a worldwide contest presented by Deutsche Telekom and implemented by EIT ICT Labs Germany, 444 smart ideas from 4 continents and 45 countries met the contest deadline and stepped into the race to win this years' Telekom Innovation Contest. A first price valued at EUR 500,000 in Telekom resources to develop the idea into a product is awaiting the winning idea. This is including business coaching, hardware and software and access to Telekom’s infrastructure. The international contest was initiated by T-Mobile Poland, Magyar Telekom in Hungary, Telekom Innovation Laboratories in Germany, and EIT ICT Labs Germany as an implementation partner. Dr. Heinrich Arnold, Head of Telekom Innovation Laboratories in Germany: "I am overwhelmed by the amount as well as the quality of submissions for our contest. I am very happy that we received proposals from 45 countries, with over 60 from Hungary and 46 from Poland." After applications doubled in the last four days before 31 March , EIT ICT Labs Germany now faces an extensive task. EIT ICT Labs Germany as an implementation partner is responsible for conceptualization and project management of the contest and the effective activation of its innovation network. "We have the great honour to have six high-ranking business managers from within the Deutsche Telekom Group committed as a jury", Dr. Udo Bub , CEO at EIT ICT Labs Germany, says. "Still, it will be an immense challenge to select and announce the twelve best ideas by Mid-May. I expect to see twelve excellent business pitches at the finals on 10 June, in our Co-Location Centre in Berlin." With this global contest, Deutsche Telekom successfully involved teams, students and individuals as well as employees and subsidiary employees. It connected to entrepreneurial minds in countries such as Congo, Malaysia, Israel, Ethiopia, South Africa , Iran, Taiwan, Pakistan and Sweden among many others. Some 100 submitted applications from German soil confirm the reliability of the German innovation network. A high number of submissions from the partner countries Poland and Hungary showcase the drive to innovation in Central and Eastern Europe. "As a leading partner in innovation we welcome this contest since it is a unique opportunity for Magyar Telekom to play a principal role in emerging bright Hungarian ideas. I am confident that creative Hungarian teams will succeed in the strong international field," Robert Pataki, Chief Innovation Officer of Magyar Telekom in Hungary and jury member says. Fellow jury member Milan Zika, Chief Technology & Innovation Officer of T-Mobile Poland: "I am looking forward to seeing the prototype of the winning idea, which will be presented at our polish Telekom’s Innovation Day in December of this year". Over one third of over 340 external applications and some 100 ideas from Telekom employees were submitted in Communications Services' subcategory. The other 60 percent consist of innovations in the field of Connected Home, Energy, Virtual Platform and Cloud Computing. More information on Telekom Innovation Contest: www.telekom-innovation-contest.com , www.twitter.com/innocontest and www.facebook.com/innocontest .

About Deutsche Telekom Deutsche Telekom is one of the world's leading integrated telecommunications companies with more than 132 million mobile customers, 32 million fixed-network lines and over 17 million broadband lines (as of December 31, 2012). The Group provides fixed-network, mobile communications, Internet and IPTV products and services for consumers, and ICT solutions for business and corporate customers. Deutsche Telekom is present in some 50 countries and has over 230,000 employees worldwide. The Group generated revenue of EUR 58.2 billion in the 2012 financial year - over half of it outside Germany (as of December 31, 2012). About EIT ICT Labs EIT ICT Labs is one of the first Knowledge and Innovation Communities set up by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, as an initiative of the European Union. EIT ICT Labs’ mission is to drive European leadership in ICT innovation for economic growth and quality of life. Since 2010, EIT ICT Labs has consistently brought together researchers, academics and business. By linking education, research and business, EIT ICT Labs empowers ICT top talents for the future and brings ICT innovations to life. EIT ICT Labs’ partners represent global companies, leading research centers, and top ranked universities in the field of ICT. For more information, please visit www.eitictlabs.eu and www.eitictlabs.eu/germany.

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