Eva Bandelj

Societies we live in today are going through many changes. Factors that have an impact on the way societies form and function include population growth, increasing diversity, and, of course, the development of technology.

While there are many different opinions about what makes a truly great society, the majority of us would agree that it should have well-informed, engaged and connected citizens. In an ideal society, each member knows their rights and their freedom but respects each other as well as the established rules and norms. Everyone is provided with means to satisfy their basic needs and has access to good education, employment, and healthcare.

A truly smart society brings together individuals who share goals, challenges, and opportunities, and enables them to be part of the development and the governance of their cities.

The way we travel has dramatically changed over the past 30 years. Our parents and grandparents did not have nearly as many opportunities to travel as we do now. Compared to the generation of baby boomers, millennials do not limit themselves and travel all over the world in search of unique experiences. We see more and more young people who often travel in groups or on their own to discover themselves and explore different cultures. The digital nomad life is growing in popularity, and many millennials shape their careers around traveling.

We live in the era of consumerism. The world population buys tons of new products every day and throws them away on average 6 months after the purchase. The line between our needs and our wants is blurred, and corporations around the world work hard to satisfy our desires. Our present economy is based on the principle of “taking, making, wasting”, which means we consume the natural resources of the planet in an excessive and disordered way.

People are the most important asset for organizations. Without great employees, a company doesn’t stand a chance against its competitors. The knowledge of the processes and systems within the organization, experience in the field, as well as client relationships bring value that simply can’t be replaced.

Transportation is one of the basic human needs. To stay connected to our jobs, education and leisure activities, we are in need of mobility and access to transport. A well-connected and integrated transportation system within cities and across borders defines the economic success of the urban areas and contributes to their livability and vitality.

We would like to invite you for an Innovation Lab session with Vodafone on the 7th of July in Amsterdam. We will introduce you to our newest dedicated Internet of Things technology NarrowBand-IoT, bound to truly accelerate the Internet of Everything. We will walk you through the technical and commercial benefits of the technology and explain why we strongly believe in NB-IoT as the global standard in LPWA. We will discuss various use cases, especially linked to the Smart Cities topic and how you can integrate this technology into your business and solutions.

The session will be hosted by Vodafone at their HQ in Amsterdam. It provides you with the chance to connect with the Startupbootcamp startups, partners and alumni, the Vodafone IoT team, and everyone active in the field of Smart Cities. It will be a great opportunity to learn and get inspired. So spread the word! Space is limited, so sign up quickly if you want to attend by sending me an email (eva.bandelj@startupbootcamp.org).

Date: 7-7-2017
Time: 15:00h - 17:00h with drinks after
Location: Vodafone HQ, Simon Carmiggeltstraat 6, 1011 DJ, Amsterdam (close to Central Station)

For more background, check this link and the whitepaper on this site http://www.vodafone.com/business/iot/nb-IoT