Smart city “innovators” announced winners of second Cognicity Challenge

Smart city “innovators” Demand Logic and SEaB Energy are to pilot their technologies at Canary Wharf after being selected as winners of the second cohort of the Cognicity Challenge.

The smart cities accelerator programme was established to discover and nurture technologies with a positive economic, social and environmental impact across six key sectors: sustainable buildings, integrated transportation, integrated resource management, automated building management, connected home, visual design and construction.

Demand Logic uses big data analytics to discover energy savings and performance improvements for commercial buildings, while SEaB Energy develops Anaerobic Digestion plants which retail, agricultural and hospitality businesses use to transform waste into renewable energy.

The companies have each been awarded £50,000 as well as the opportunity to implement their technology at Canary Wharf. The programme aims to foster relationships between developers, large technology firms and start-ups, and demonstrate how multiple solutions can integrate through big data and the Internet of Things.

The two smart tech firms won the third and fourth streams of the Cognicity Challenge – ‘Integrated Resource Management’ and ‘Automated Building Management’ and were announced at a showcase event at accelerator space Level39, where they and 10 other entrants pitched their idea to a judging panel.

The winners of the first stage of the challenge, Polysolar and Voyage Control were announced on April 16 and are now working on real world pilots. The final two streams – ‘Virtual Design and Construction’ and ‘Connected Home’ – have just begun, with winners to be announced on July 7.

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman and chief executive of Canary Wharf Group, said: “We embarked on the Cognicity Challenge to identify and procure the most exciting innovations relevant to our continued growth.

“Last night was another important step in securing the next generation of technologies essential to keeping the Canary Wharf estate at the forefront of innovation.These ground-breaking solutions will deliver real value, long into the future, to our operations as well as to the workers and future residents of Canary Wharf.”

Eric Van der Kleij, managing director of ENTIQ and Head of Level39, commented: “SEaB Energy and Demand Logic are two truly worthy winners.

“By bringing together industry-leading experts and key figures from CWG, we can really help these firms to develop, tailor and deliver their solutions, creating an authentic, lasting impact on the Canary Wharf estate and beyond.”