Jordanian students urged to apply to Ericsson Innovation Awards

AMMAN — Ericsson on Wednesday urged Jordanian students to apply to participate in the Ericsson Innovation Awards 2016, a global competition pairing student teams with Ericsson experts with the aim of generating innovative uses of ICT.

The 2016 edition of the competition will focus on how ICT can improve the future of city life and ensure that tomorrow’s cities are creative, connected and sustainable places to live and work, Ericsson said in a statement to The Jordan Times.

By 2050, about 70 per cent of the world’s population is expected to reside in urban areas, so smart cities offer ”an incredible opportunity” to improve the lives of billions of people, according to the statement.

The 2016 competition is open to teams of two to four people. All current students are eligible to enter. After registration closes on November 30, 10 semifinalists will be announced on December 18. 

Nine of the semifinalists will be selected by an Ericsson jury, with the remaining place assigned by a public vote, Ericsson told The Jordan Times.

The 10 teams will each work with two Ericsson experts to develop a minimum viable product and business plan for their idea. Four teams will be chosen by the jury to participate in the Ericsson Innovation Awards 2016 grand final in Stockholm, Sweden. 

The winning team will receive a cash prize of 25,000 euros, while the second-place prize is 15,000 euros and two runner-up teams will receive 1,000 euros each. 

All participants will be invited to apply for job opportunities within Ericsson, and semifinalists will be interviewed for internship or full-time positions. 

“In terms of ICT, the Middle East is extremely dynamic, with parts of the region leading the global ICT transformation,” the statement quoted Girish Johar, vice president and head of HR at Ericsson Region Middle East, as saying.

”As we pave the way towards life in the networked society, it is our responsibility to inspire this region’s young minds and open up new ways for them to think, innovate and collaborate,” he added.