Digital pioneers have chance to scoop £2500 prize

A prize of 2500 will be given to the individual or team that presents the best innovation to meet any challenge relating to Industry 4.0 - the term that describes the next generation of smart manufacturing. This competition offers students the chance to present in front of a panel of Industry 4.0 experts, as well as exhibit at the Factories of the Future Expo to be hosted in Manchester.

Competition co-organiser Dr Carl Driver from The University of Manchester says: "This is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate your innovation and also to network with companies, investors, employers, policy-makers and academics." Dr Driver explained that Industry 4.0 is a term that describes the technological breakthroughs that will power the next industrial revolution.

He adds: "It's about connectivity between people, machines and devices, analysing large volumes of "Big Data' to boost efficiency, working with "cobots' - collaborative robots which work closely with humans - as well as using augmented reality and 3D printing. It's also about making industry smarter, more flexible and more efficient."

The 2018 competition is open to both individuals and teams. Teams can contain up to six people but the team must be either current students (undergraduate or postgraduate from any higher education Institution) or have graduated after June 2013.

The deadline for competition entry is Monday 15th January 2018 at 23:59Hrs. For more information about the competition and its rules visit Digital Innovation Challenge.