From a world-first in-ear sound tracking solution letting you enjoy music safely, to a citizens’ engagement platform in Southern Africa, an app helping healthcare teams monitor sick children and innovative solutions in education, agriculture, virtual reality and automotive repair – technological ingenuity and business acumen address real-world social issues at the ITU Telecom World Awards.
Open to all exhibiting or sponsoring small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large companies at ITU Telecom World 2019, the leading UN tech event for governments, corporates and SMEs, the Awards recognize ICT applications, products and solutions meeting developmental challenges, whether on a local, smaller scale or through global outreach.
An opportunity to encounter, engage with and celebrate the best in innovative tech solutions changing the world for the better, the Awards platform offers participants a unique mixture of UN credibility, international visibility and access to networking, investment potential and partnerships. It’s a launching pad which has proved highly valuable since the programme’s inception in 2015 – as some of the winners from ITU Telecom World 2018 confirm.
“By winning this award, we have gained greater marketing exposure to the product, which will bring more awareness to this growing issue and significant weight in the market in recognising that there is a solution available,” said dbTrack, inventors of certified earphones with patented sound senor technology to protect hearing.
Mulweli Rebelo of Ologa Sistemas from Mozambique, developers of the Sure Track healthcare app to collect and store patient information, agreed: “(The Award) took Ologa to a new level, with many invitations to participate at events, talk about our product and speak at various panels – and we’ve been approached by several entities who would like to pilot the solution with a view to becoming a client.”
“ITU Telecom World was a great platform for us as an SME to showcase our solution to an international audience. We were able to generate leads, we have built confidence in our business, our team is motivated to work harder… to grow our business to create more jobs and contribute to enabling smart cities that are responsive and safe for citizens,” affirmed Tshepo Thlaku, founder and CEO of business services enterprise Pulego Communications.
All SMEs taking part in the ITU Telecom World Awards can access the event’s SME Programme, a full four days of activities focused on supporting and fostering the growth of small businesses in the ICT sector around the world – in recognition of the critical importance of SMEs in driving industry growth, creating jobs and accelerating social and economic development.
The SME Programme includes skills development and capacity-building workshops, interactive debates with government and industry experts, pitching sessions, and targeted matchmaking with peers, mentors and potential investors. It provides powerful access to ministers, regulators and influential business leaders, opening up partnership opportunities and boosting growth.
“It’s truly been a game changer for our business,” says Sabelo Sibanda of South African Award winner Tuse, “The SME programme gave us unparalleled exposure, access to markets, finance and new opportunities. And winning the Award has given us all of that on an exponential scale.”
Selected by expert juries onsite at ITU Telecom World 2019 in Budapest, Hungary, all winners and finalists will be presented with trophies and certificates by the ITU Secretary-General in a high-profile ceremony during the event.
It’s an opportunity to showcase tech innovation for good on a truly global stage, with all the visibility, partnership and investment potential it brings with it. It’s an opportunity not to be missed. Step it up – apply to the ITU Telecom World Awards now.
ITU Telecom World 2019 takes place at Hungexpo, Budapest, from 9 – 12 September 2019.
