Unilever to promote IoT innovations by supporting new competition

Unilever has been named as one of the supporting partners of a new UK competition that aims to promote innovation in Internet of Things (IoT) technology.

Worth one million pounds, the Launchpad contest will provide support for early and growth-stage businesses working in the IoT space, offering business and marketing support, mentorship, routes to market and grant funding to the winning innovations.

The IoT is an emerging field of research that involves using the internet to communicate with a wide variety of disparate devices. For example, it allows users to use smartphone apps to control their home heating or TV recording systems while out and about.

Unilever has agreed to match funding up to 50 percent for suitable competition winners and offer them business and marketing support along with mentorship. Other supporting partners include John Lewis, EE, Seedcamp and Red Gate.

Keith Weed, chief marketing and communications officer at Unilever, said: "We strive to be at the forefront of marketing and media innovation and to have our brands engage in the most creative, efficient and effective ways with the people we serve."

This follows on from last month's launch of the Unilever Foundry, a global platform that will act as a single entry point for innovative start-ups seeking to partner with the group.