MTN Unveils Mind2Machine Awards & Competitions 2017 – Win Big Prizes And Build Your Startup

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May 10, 2017

Are you a hotshot IoT developer with a big idea or market ready solution? Does your company create exciting and innovative machine-to-machine implementations?

The 2017 Mind2Machine Conference and Awards is coming! Now in our third year, Mind2Machine is maturing, from a pure “challenge and awards” model into a broader event, including both awards and a conference – promoting knowledge and best practice sharing for developers and buyers in the connected infrastructure and Internet of things space.

Machine-to-machine technology is transforming the worlds of business, retail, heavy industry, and our personal lives. The 2017 Mind2Machine event will address opportunities bringing together the business and development sides of the machine-to-machine and Internet of things coin.

Mind2Machine 2017 Categories

Here are areas of interests:

The Best Commercial M2M Solution: An existing solution, in the market place and commercially viable

The Most Disruptive M2M Solution: An existing solution bringing rapid disruption or change in its environment, or one which has the potential to revolutionise industries

Best Enterprise Development App: The best app developed by an ED beneficiary, or developer that has gone through an incubation programme

Innovative Hardware in IoT: A M2M hardware solution, originating from an established business or Organisation

Wildcard: A machine-to-machine market-ready solution or idea that does not necessarily fit into any of the above categories, or serve a specific purpose or intention. It must however be aimed at corporate use to streamline production efficiencies and generate increased income.

All entrants will have the opportunity to be trained on the MTN M2M platform, and given access to free software and hardware during the conception phase of the competition. There is an exciting bouquet of prizes up-for-grabs, as well as the resultant press coverage and media interest that comes hand-in-hand with an event of this magnitude.

Application

Apply here; submission closes 12 May 2017

Fuel Stations Are Using AI To Set Prices

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Tekedia Editors

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May 10, 2017

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This is the roundup of today’s major global news.

Gas stations are using AI to set prices. The algorithms are testing textbook theories (paywall) of competition.

A tunnel filled with nuclear waste collapsed in Washington state. The US Department of Energy declared an emergency after a tunnel collapsed at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, home to 53 million gallons (200 million liters) of radioactive waste. Officials said no workers were exposed or airborne emissions detected, but robots were deployed to take more air samples.

Energy consumption has been transformed by the humble lightbulb. Efficient LED bulbs have dramatically reduced electricity consumption.

We have a chip for that. Nvidia reported a lot more profit than Wall Street expected for the first quarter, as graphics chip sales surged for gaming PCs and more data centers opted to install GPUs for AI and machine learning tasks. At the other end of the spectrum, Yelp shocked investors with a lower revenue outlook, as local advertisers have been dropping the popular restaurant review app.

We got you covered. Uber is testing a program in eight states, including Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, to pay drivers five cents more per mile to incentivize joining an insurance program covering drivers and passengers that costs 3.75 cents per mile.

Nigerian Leaders Celebrate As Oracle Opens Sales Office, Over R&D Center, in Abuja

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Tekedia Editors

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May 10, 2017

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It is always a shame when Nigerian governments come out to celebrate opening of sales offices by big multinational corporations. In most parts of the world, government officials come out only when there is an opening of a research and development center or something big.

In Abuha, Oracle Corp was opening a sales office and Nigerian leaders were everywhere to drive home the constructs of consumerism which our technology has become.

Reinforcing its commitment to Africa, Oracle announced the opening of a new office in Abuja that will focus exclusively on driving cloud adoption across Nigeria’s Public Sector. Yes, public contracts!

Key dignitaries including Barrister Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu, Honorable Minister of Communications, Federal Republic of Nigeria; William Stuart Symington, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria; Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Executive Governor of Kogi State; Cherian Varghese, Vice President – Technology, Africa, Oracle and Adebayo Sanni, Country Managing Director – Nigeria, Oracle attended a launch event at the new office to mark the milestone.

“Opening the Abuja office underscores our commitment to Nigeria by enhancing our local capabilities and service offerings,” said Cherian Varghese. “Nigeria’s Public Sector is focused on delivering transparent, efficient and proactive services to its citizens. Our aim will be supporting the government implement its vision with a modern, secure, and cost-effective suite of cloud solutions built specifically for the public sector.”

And the head of IT ministry has some good words.

“ICT innovation is vital for improving the citizen experience, driving new investment opportunities, enhancing government revenue and identifying new growth avenues”, said Barrister Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu. “By 2020, Nigeria will be one of the 20 largest economies of the world and we will be able to realize our full economic and social potential only if we become early adopters of modern technology. Oracle is at the forefront of delivering technologically advanced cloud solutions and we congratulate the company’s Africa leadership for expanding their footprint in Nigeria.”

Now, the contracting begins. They are in and the local companies are surely out.

European Commission Invites Zenvus To European Development Days (EDD 2017)

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Tekedia Editors

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May 10, 2017

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Organised by the European Commission, the European Development Days (EDD) bring the development community together each year to share ideas and experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

The Commission through OCP Group has invited Zenvus to EDD 2017 which will hold in Brussels June 7-8 2017.

The EDD is Europe’s leading forum on international cooperation and development. EDD 2017 will promote a new global strategy to address the most pressing current global development challenges and bring together development actors committed to tackling poverty worldwide with a particular emphasis on engaging the private sector as a partner in economic development. The private sector’s role in international development policies will be discussed and spotlighted throughout the forum. Overarching objectives of the private sector engagement include the promotion of inclusive growth and the creation of decent jobs in particular for women and youth, which leads to improved living conditions.

PARTNERING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR

This session will seek to stimulate a discussion about the importance of bringing EU and pan-African agriculture into the third millennium and address how “farming 2.0” innovation can improve food security and boost youth employment in a sector which has recently faced skills shortages and abandonment. It will look at how technology driven farming can play a key role in agricultural development over the coming decades to ensure that we can feed the world, given that by 2050 the global population will surpass 9.5 billion and will require 50 to 70 % more agricultural output to secure food for everyone.

In this context, technology- driven farming can help sustain a growing population while simultaneously sustainably increasing agricultural production. By examining the sector from both African and European perspectives, the debate will look to strengthen EU-Africa relations and develop potential private sector partnerships.

The session will also highlight the success of innovative African agricultural start-ups to explore how achievements in sustainable African farming can be leveraged to improve agricultural practices throughout the African continent.

Ultimately, the session will call on EU member states and African countries to promote policies which support the development of agricultural technology, improve sustainability, and encourage the involvement of young farmers.

Zenvus Founder, Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe, will be speaking in this session, alongside other leaders.

Zenvus

Zenvus is a precision agtech company that uses sensors and big data analytics to improve farm yields.

FBI Director James Comey Has Been Fired – White House

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Tekedia Editors

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May 9, 2017

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FDI Director James Comey has been fired…. this is breaking news.

The FBI on Tuesday sent Congress a letter correcting Director James Comey’s testimony regarding the “hundreds and thousands” of emails he incorrectly claimed top Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin forwarded to her husband Anthony Weiner.

“Director Comey spoke of hundreds and thousands of e-mails being forwarded from Ms. Abedin to Mr. Weiner’s laptop computer,” Gregory A. Brower, the assistant director for the bureau’s Office of Congressional Affairs, wrote in a letter to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA). “Investigators ultimately determined that two e-mail chains containing classified information were manually forwarded to Mr. Weiner’s account.”

Comey testified last week before the Senate Judiciary Committee that Abedin made “a regular practice” of forwarding “hundreds and thousands” of emails to Weiner “for him I think to print out” so Abedin could deliver the hard copies to Clinton.

CNN is reporting that he has been fired by White House.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

MTN Unveils Mind2Machine Awards & Competitions 2017 – Win Big Prizes And Build Your Startup