Submission Guidelines

Before You Submit

Everything You Need to Know

The IoThinkTank Awards recognize the companies, products, platforms, services, deployments, and individuals advancing the Internet of Things across every major industry. Whether your innovation improves infrastructure, connectivity, security, AI, sustainability, healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, or another IoT discipline, these guidelines are designed to help you submit a complete, competitive entry.

Our goal is to evaluate every submission fairly and consistently. Strong entries clearly explain the problem being solved, the innovation behind the solution, its measurable impact, and why it deserves industry recognition.

Eligibility

Who Can Submit

Entries are welcome from organizations of all sizes developing or deploying Internet of Things technologies. This includes startups, established companies, enterprise technology providers, manufacturers, software developers, hardware vendors, service providers, research organizations, public-sector agencies, and other organizations delivering meaningful innovation through connected technologies.

Submissions may be made directly by the organization being recognized or by an authorized representative, including marketing teams, communications professionals, agencies, public relations firms, or technology partners acting on the entrant’s behalf.

IoThinkTank welcomes submissions from around the world. Entrants are not required to be based in any specific country, provided the submitted product, platform, service, deployment, or individual aligns with the selected award category.

Organizations may submit to multiple award categories when appropriate. Each submission should be tailored to the specific category and explain why the entry is a strong fit for that particular award.

Submission Requirements

What to Include in Your Entry

Each submission should provide enough information for IoThinkTank to understand what is being entered, how it fits the selected category, what makes it innovative, and what results or value it has delivered.

Applicants should be prepared to provide:

• Company or organization name: The name of the company, organization, agency, or individual being entered.
• Product, platform, project, or solution name: Clearly identify the technology, deployment, company, or individual being considered.
• Selected award category: Choose the category that most closely reflects the primary value and purpose of the entry.
• Primary contact information: Include the name and email address of the person authorized to communicate with IoThinkTank about the submission.
• Public website or information URL: Provide a current page where reviewers can learn more about the company or submitted solution.
• Submission narrative: Explain what the entry does, why it matters, how it advances IoT, and why it deserves recognition.
• Evidence of impact: Include measurable results, implementation outcomes, adoption, customer value, operational improvements, or other credible evidence where available.
• Approved company logo: Submit a clear, high-resolution logo that may be used in award-related materials if the entry is selected.
• Supporting visual: Include at least one relevant product image, interface screenshot, deployment photo, architecture diagram, or other approved visual whenever available.

A narrative of at least 250 words is recommended. Longer submissions are welcome when additional detail is needed to explain the technology, implementation, differentiation, and results.

There is no advantage to filling an entry with broad marketing language. Clear, specific, and well-supported submissions are easier to evaluate and are generally more competitive.

Strong Entries

What Makes a Submission Stand Out

The strongest IoThinkTank entries do more than describe a connected product or platform. They clearly connect the technology to a meaningful problem, explain how the solution works, and show why the results matter.

Explain the problem

Describe the operational, technical, industry, or user challenge the entry was created to address. Give reviewers enough context to understand why the problem matters.

Explain the innovation

Clearly identify what is new, different, or meaningfully better about the technology, approach, deployment, or business model. Avoid relying only on phrases such as “industry-leading,” “revolutionary,” or “best-in-class.”

Show how IoT creates value

Explain how connected devices, sensors, platforms, networks, edge systems, analytics, automation, or related technologies contribute to the outcome. The role of IoT should be clear and material to the entry.

Provide measurable evidence

Whenever possible, include specific results such as reduced downtime, lower costs, improved efficiency, increased safety, stronger reliability, energy savings, faster response times, broader adoption, improved visibility, or better customer outcomes.

Demonstrate execution

Explain whether the solution is commercially available, deployed, piloted, recently launched, patented, or otherwise validated. Early-stage technologies may still be considered, but the submission should clearly explain their current maturity and practical potential.

Keep the entry focused

Tailor the submission to the selected category. A strong entry explains why the solution belongs in that specific award rather than submitting the same generic narrative across multiple categories.

Multiple Entries

Submitting to More Than One Category

Many IoT solutions address multiple challenges or industries. If your technology is a strong fit for more than one award category, you are welcome to submit it multiple times.

Each submission is evaluated independently, so every entry should be tailored to the specific category being entered. Rather than reusing identical responses, explain why the solution is a strong fit for that particular award and emphasize the aspects most relevant to the category.

Submitting to multiple categories does not guarantee additional recognition, but it does allow judges to evaluate your solution within the context of each award’s specific objectives.

Fees & Timeline

Entry Fees and Next Steps

All IoThinkTank award categories follow the same pricing structure.

• Early Bird Entry: $395 USD
• Standard Entry: $495 USD

Each annual award follows its own submission schedule, including entries open, early bird pricing, final submission deadline, and winner announcement dates. Current timelines are published on each award page.

If you’re unsure which category best fits your solution, or have questions before submitting, our awards team is happy to help.

Recognition

What Selected Entrants May Receive

IoThinkTank recognition is designed to help winners communicate their achievement clearly and credibly. The exact materials provided may vary by award category, recognition level, and award cycle.

Recognition assets may only be used for the specific company, product, solution, individual, category, and award year for which they were issued. Entrants must describe their recognition accurately and may not alter assets or wording in a way that creates a misleading claim.

Selected entrants are generally contacted before the public announcement. IoThinkTank may provide draft winner materials for factual review and may establish an embargo date before recognition can be shared publicly.

Final Checklist

Before You Submit

Before completing an entry, confirm that:

• The selected category is a strong and natural fit for the entry.
• The submission clearly explains the problem, solution, innovation, and value.
• The narrative includes specific evidence or measurable outcomes where available.
• The company, product, platform, project, deployment, or individual is identified accurately.
• The primary contact information is current.
• The person submitting the entry is authorized to act on behalf of the entrant.
• The company logo and supporting visuals are approved for judging and potential recognition use.
• Customer names, quotes, metrics, screenshots, or other materials are authorized for submission.
• Any information that must remain confidential or excluded from public materials is clearly identified in writing.
• Supporting links and uploaded files are accessible and current.
• The applicable entry fee and non-refundable payment terms are understood.
• The entrant is comfortable being publicly recognized if selected.

Program Policies

Agreement to IoThinkTank Guidelines

By submitting an entry, entrants confirm that the information provided is accurate, that they are authorized to submit the materials, and that they agree to the IoThinkTank Submission Guidelines and related program policies.

Entrants should review the following before submitting:

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Cookie Policy

IoThinkTank reserves the right to request clarification, reject incomplete or misleading entries, reassign an entry when appropriate, decline to present an award, correct recognition language, or revoke recognition when material information is found to be inaccurate or unauthorized.

Payment is for award consideration and does not guarantee selection or recognition.