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Project: IoT lab for SME 2.0

The aim of this project is to develop a well-established network of companies in the Linnaeus region that can benefit from each other's expertise and products within Internet of Things (IoT). We want to achieve this by offering knowledge-enhancing and practical activities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) so that they get the opportunity to take significant steps on their digital development journey.

One of the future technologies predicted to impact a large number of business models is Internet of Things (IoT). IoT results in an increasing number of devices being connected to the Internet. Early adaptation to this new technology may prove critical for the future existence of some SMEs.

To strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises in the Linnaeus region regarding IoT matters, good examples need to be highlighted, knowledge levels need to be increased, and experiments need to be conducted. Experimental technological development, aligned with the company's strategy, has proven to be crucial in understanding how the technology can be utilised and applied in innovation processes.

Since autumn 2019, Linnaeus University has worked intensively with IoT, based on these premises. We have established a close collaboration with Kalmar Energi and Wexnet, which have extensive experience in infrastructure issues. From 1 July, 2021, to 30 April, 2023, the work was further developed within the project IoT Lab for SMEs. Within the current project, we will continue the activities that worked well and further refine the work. Kalmar Energi and Wexnet will continue to work with us, even though they are no longer formal project partners. Companies in the Linnaeus region are given the opportunity to deepen their IoT-related knowledge. This may include companies wanting to work with IoT to streamline their operations, reduce costs and/or their carbon footprint, or develop new digital innovations and business models.

Facts about the project

Project manager
Fredrik Ahlgren

Other project members
John Jeansson, David Mozart, Simon Vestlund, Mustafa Omareen, Neda Melaki, Arslan Musaddiq, Mats Loock, Johan Leitet, Hemant Ghayvat, Daniel Toll, Tobias Ohlsson, Francis Palma, Mustafa Omareen, Hatem Algabroun, Diana Unander and Peter Jonsson, Linnaeus University

Håkan Hallhén, Håkan Larsson and Tobias Sundling, Wexnet

Victor Olofsson and Mikael Westling, Kalmar Energi

Participating organisations
Linnaeus University, Kalmar Energi, Wexnet

Financiers
The European Regional Development Fund via the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket), Region Kronoberg and Region Kalmar County

Timetable
1 July 2021–30 April 2023

Subject
Computer science (Department of Computer Science and Media Technology, Faculty of Technology)
Business informatics (Department of Organisation and Entrepreneurship, School of Business and Economics)

Research group
Engineering Resilient Systems (EReS)
Linnaeus University Centre
Linnaeus University Centre for Data Intensive Sciences and Applications
Linnaeus Knowledge Environment
Digital Transformations

Outreach activities and guidance

Throughout the project, we intend to reach out to all types of companies that may be interested in working with IoT and digital development. Our project coordinator will make company visits, both in-person and digitally, to discuss what needs and opportunities there are, and then provide guidance on what activities could be suitable for each company.

Guidance discussion

To determine the most suitable activity based on needs and opportunities, guidance discussions are a good starting point. This means that your company will get the opportunity to meet our project coordinator, either in-person or digitally. At this session, you can describe your needs, current level of knowledge on the topic, and any specific problems you want to solve. Based on your response, you will receive suggestions for activities that best meet your needs.

Open inspirational workshops

The project's inspirational workshops are organised in collaboration with the project's research engineer or researchers/lecturers and primarily serve as an opportunity to explore various possibilities from a technical perspective. This may involve demonstrating different types of technical solutions or showcasing successful examples from other companies. The content of these inspirational workshops may vary depending on the specific interests expressed by the companies.

Inspirational lectures

The project's inspirational lectures can serve as a great starting point for those who want to learn more about IoT, how to get started, and what opportunities the technology brings. The goal is to generate interest in IoT technology among the audience and provide inspiration to explore the possibilities for their own businesses. If you are a larger group within a company or if you are gathering multiple companies, we are happy to come to your location to provide inspiration on what is possible and the best ways to get started.

Competence-enhancing activities within IoT

The project offers various activities aimed at SMEs to increase their competence in IoT. This includes both theoretical and practical knowledge. For example, companies can get the opportunity to test their own ideas with support from the project.

In-depth lectures

For those who want to delve deeper and gain more in-depth knowledge without enrolling in a full course, we offer in-depth lectures, primarily delivered digitally. However, if there is a critical mass of interested companies, live lectures can also be arranged. Since IoT is a broad field that covers everything from hardware and electronics to networking, radio communication, battery technology, data storage, visualisation, business support, and business models, while also being a rapidly changing domain, it is challenging to stay updated. Therefore, the content of the in-depth lectures will vary.

Workshops

Learning new technology often involves hands-on experimentation with various tools and equipment. During a workshop, companies get the opportunity to learn the basics and explore on their own to gain a better understanding of what IoT solutions can contribute with. This activity is also intended as a step towards becoming a pilot case.

Business models within IoT

This activity is offered to support companies by examining their existing business models and contributing to an increased understanding of how these models can be influenced and potentially developed with the help of new technology. We will primarily work with companies conducting pilot cases in this activity, but there may be opportunities for other companies as well. If you are interested, please feel free to get in touch.

Design of Business models within IoT

The project will meet up with the participating company on three occasions. The purpose is to identify, develop, and evaluate the relationship between the company's IoT initiatives and its business model, together with the company's management and those responsible for digital initiatives at the company.

The company's digital temperature and driving forces – A key focus at the first instance is to provide the company with a snapshot of its digital transformation.
The company's digital business model – The second instance takes the form of a business model workshop.
The company's digital tensions – The third instance occurs some time after the company's solution has been designed and delivered. A central consideration is the importance of purposeful and long-term actions for value realisation.

The companies will receive feedback in the form of shorter interim reports connected to the three occasions. The purpose is to enable both short-term and long-term learning for increased value creation and competitiveness.

In our previous project, IoT Lab for SMEs, we worked on the following pilot cases:

Stens Chark AB: The lab helped the company implement IoT sensors to measure temperatures and humidity in their charcuterie production, contributing to process optimisation and reducing quality issues and food waste.
Honestbox AB: The lab assisted the company in developing next-generation hardware for unmanned stores by identifying suitable firmware updates and creating resilient connections with multiple communication protocols.
Flowbic AB: The lab supported Flowbic in the development of hardware, sensors, and network technology related to IoT solutions and explored new possibilities in collaboration with biologists at Linnaeus University.
Svenska Våg AB: The lab worked on connecting existing weighing systems to the internet, enabling the company to offer new IoT-based solutions to improve productivity and reduce operating costs.
PM & Vänner: The lab supported the company in developing a connected and digitalised process for measuring food waste, contributing to operational optimisation and achieving the company's environmental goals.
Beelab AB: The lab helped Beelab develop battery-powered, energy-efficient systems connected to NB-IoT or LTE-CAT M1, reducing energy consumption and enabling a product that can function wirelessly even without access to power.
QTF Sweden AB: The lab assisted the company in developing communication and measurement for existing equipment in HVAC systems by implementing IoT technology and finding the right communication and hardware for integration with existing systems.
Aquateq AB: The lab helped Aquateq explore the possibility of having a connected nozzle that can send data about pressure and flow in flushing nozzles. In this project, the lab was able to contribute to validating a product idea.
TIVA: The lab assisted TIVA in developing a solar-powered, energy-efficient IoT sensor to measure water levels and provided advice on communication protocols and hardware, resulting in a successful prototype for further development.
Adductor AB: The lab supported Adductor in developing a new wireless LoRaWAN-based product and integrating it into their existing codebase, improving their customers' experience and offering a stronger solution for industrial machinery.
Alaiw Solutions AB: The lab supported the company in developing a prototype for a smart connected walker for the elderly, including both hardware and software, which contributed to validating the company's product idea and facilitating further development.
Eventcenter: The lab helped them perform systematic tests on multiple sensors and find a solution to improve the experience in the Twister room, which previously had technical issues with existing sensors.
Burde - Jobout: The lab developed an initial prototype for connected sitting and standing cushions to measure how much staff sits and stands in the workplace, assisting the company in their efforts to improve the working environment.
Pure Bio Synergy (PBS): The lab assisted them in developing a smart gateway that can communicate with the Internet for both measurement and control of their unique ozone generator for water purification, contributing to creating an adaptable and connected product.
Böda Sand: The lab supported them in expanding an IoT network, choosing hardware, and integrating it with their own systems to digitalise and measure people's movement in their areas, as well as connecting multiple weather stations for local weather data.

Contact

The project is part of the research conducted by The Engineering Resilient Systems (EReS) research group and the Linnaeus Knowledge Environment: Digital Transformations.

If you would like to participate in our activities, keep an eye out for our events or contact Elin Gunnarsson for more information.