5G-focused construction technology start-ups have three weeks left to enter Ferrovial’s 5G Future of Construction Challenge.
The challenge is run by Ferrovial in partnership with 5PRING, the UK 5G testbed provider. 5PRING is a joint venture of West Midlands 5G (WM5G), O2, Deloitte, Wayra and the Digital Catapult.
The Future of Construction challenge will provide start-ups and other small businesses with the support needed to develop and scale innovations targeted at the construction sector that “harness the power of 5G to create a safe, dynamic and efficient construction industry”. There will be a specific focus on health, safety and security, as well as logistics and site operations.
The Future of Construction challenge will offer successful companies access to a private 5G network, a tailored acceleration programme, as well as coaching, mentoring and expertise provided by experts from Ferrovial and the 5PRING consortium members.
Javier Vaca de Osma, technology and processes director at Ferrovial Construction, said: “5PRING will give Ferrovial the opportunity to explore 5G potential to leverage innovation for our businesses by accessing a new ecosystem of start-ups and disruptive solutions.
“With this partnership we are looking to foster the digitisation of our construction sites integrating, through 5G, technologies such as augmented reality, edge computing or IoT systems to boost efficiencies while ensuring the safety of our working environments. 5PRING will allow us to identify and test cutting-edge solutions on a real test bed of innovation.”
Applications for the accelerator are now open and should be submitted by midnight on 14 May. Applicants with 5G-enabled solutions that use augmented reality, computer vision, IoT, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and robotics, and which are regarded as still relevant to the construction sector, are also encouraged to apply.
WM5G MD Robert Franks said: “It is through partnerships such as those that 5PRING is developing that we will truly be able to understand the real potential that 5G has to revolutionise the UK’s major industries.
“The guidance and expert advice that our 5PRING teams can provide both virtually and through our dedicated Accelerator hubs in Coventry, Wolverhampton and Birmingham are leading the way.
“Ferrovial’s decades of experience will be vital in helping to shape and guide the innovative solutions that we are hoping to see delivered through this programme, transforming their ambitions into reality.”
Challenge registration: bit.ly/5pringregister
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