2026 IoT Innovation of the Year

Submission overview

The 2026 IoT Innovation of the Year recognizes original connected technologies, products, platforms, services, and business models that move the Internet of Things forward through creative thinking and effective execution.

Eligible innovations may introduce new functionality, improve how IoT systems are designed or deployed, make connected technology more accessible, or apply existing capabilities in a distinctly better way. Entries may represent entirely new solutions or meaningful advances to established products and platforms.

Strong submissions will explain what makes the innovation different, the problem it addresses, how it creates value, and what evidence demonstrates its technical, operational, or commercial potential.

This award is a great fit if…

• Your product, platform, service, or business model introduces a distinctive approach to an IoT challenge
• Your innovation improves deployment, usability, intelligence, interoperability, scalability, security, or customer outcomes
• You have applied connected technology in a creative way that delivers practical value
• Your work offers a clear advantage over existing products, legacy workflows, or traditional approaches
• You can demonstrate technical progress, customer adoption, deployment growth, or measurable impact

Entry schedule

• Entries Open: Tuesday, December 1, 2026
• Early Bird Deadline: Friday, January 15, 2027
• Final Entry Deadline: Friday, February 12, 2027
• Winners Announced: Tuesday, March 9, 2027

Entries must be completed and paid by the applicable deadline.

Entry fees

• Early Bird Entry: $395 through January 15, 2027
• Standard Entry: $495 through February 12, 2027

Each category submission is treated as a separate entry.

What to submit

Your submission should give judges a clear understanding of the innovation, its differentiation, and the value it provides.

• Innovation summary: Describe the product, platform, service, technology, or business model and explain what makes it innovative
• Problem and opportunity: Identify the challenge, limitation, or market need the innovation addresses
• Differentiation: Explain how the entry improves upon existing alternatives, legacy systems, or conventional approaches
• Evidence and results: Include relevant KPIs, benchmarks, adoption data, deployment outcomes, customer examples, or performance improvements
• Execution and scalability: Describe the innovation’s readiness, reliability, implementation experience, and potential for broader adoption
• Supporting materials: Provide relevant product pages, architecture diagrams, screenshots, case studies, technical materials, media coverage, or customer references

Optional supporting materials may include a product demonstration, video, technical brief, whitepaper, or customer testimonial.

Judging criteria

• Evidence and Measurable Impact, 30%: Strength of the results, adoption data, customer outcomes, benchmarks, or other evidence supporting the innovation’s value
• Innovation and Differentiation, 20%: Originality of the approach and the degree to which it improves upon existing technologies, products, or methods
• Execution and Scalability, 20%: Usability, reliability, deployment readiness, maintainability, and potential for wider implementation
• Leadership, Vision, and Industry Contribution, 20%: Ability to advance connected technology, encourage new applications, or influence the future direction of IoT
• Category Fit, 10%: Clarity and strength of the case that the entry represents meaningful IoT innovation

Eligibility

• Open worldwide to companies, organizations, startups, teams, and individuals operating within the Internet of Things
• The innovation must have been launched, updated, publicly demonstrated, validated, deployed, or materially advanced during the 2026 calendar year
• Products, platforms, services, architectures, applications, and business-model innovations may be entered
• Entries should include credible evidence through metrics, customer examples, technical materials, case studies, or third-party validation
• Organizations may enter multiple categories when each submission represents a legitimate fit

Confidential materials may be summarized or redacted, provided the submission includes enough information for judges to evaluate the innovation fairly.

Submission process

1. Select the IoT Innovation of the Year category in the 2026 Best of IoT Awards application.
2. Complete every required field and clearly explain the innovation’s differentiation and value.
3. Upload or link to supporting evidence and relevant materials.
4. Submit the application and pay the applicable entry fee before the deadline.

Multiple entries are permitted, although each innovation or category submission requires a separate application and entry fee.