Chicago, May 16, 2017: An Internet of Things (IoT) center, ‘Chicago Connectory’ was today inaugurated here, set up by Bosch a global supplier of technology and services, and 1871, a technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem which is currently home to nearly 500 high-growth digital startups.
A press release said startups, corporations and universities will collaborate at the Chicago Connectory through membership, programming and strategic partnerships to create IoT solutions and business models.
The Chicago Connectory features a mix of community, technology and educational resources to help facilitate IoT partnerships.
Community resources will include access to mentors from Bosch, 1871, faculty from Chicago-area universities such as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), Northwestern University and DePaul University, and executives from local corporations.
The Chicago Connectory, which was designed by Whitney Architects with support from Barbara Pollack and Associates, features open working spaces, project collaboration areas as well as space to host regular events and activities. On-going educational opportunities include IoT workshops, innovation challenges and hackathons.
Bosch, which invested nearly US $2 million to help launch the Chicago Connectory, estimates that the global volume of the IoT market will grow 35 percent annually to 250 billion dollars by 2020.
“Realising the possibilities of IoT will require open partnerships within the technology community to overcome barriers and drive innovation,” said Mike Mansuetti, President of Robert Bosch LLC.
Bosch and 1871 will be actively involved in the Connectory. Bosch will offer technical resources including a cross-domain development kit (XDK) and sensors such as accelerometers and barometric pressure sensors for IoT development. A maker space meant for smaller prototyping will feature Bosch power tools and 3D printers. Bosch will also provide mentorship from teams and leaders on topics in manufacturing, software engineering and commercialization. 1871 will provide access to its 1,000 events each year, innovation days programming that matches startups with corporate companies, access to the 1871 mentor network of more than 500 professionals, and workshops on business and technology topics.
“The Chicago Connectory is 1871’s extended IoT incubator and the place to nurture and grow the next great ideas and companies in IoT,” said Howard Tullman, Chief Executive Officer, 1871.
Two startups from 1871, Xaptum and Glance Displays, have already relocated to the Chicago Connectory and others have purchased memberships for the general co-working area.
Image Credit: Chicago Connectory