SoundVision wins Ericsson Innovation Awards 2016

• Canada's SoundVision named winners of Ericsson Innovation Awards 2016 by high-profile jury including HRH Prince Daniel
• Team has developed a mobile device that converts 3D spatial information into sound, enabling blind individuals to identify their surroundings more effectively
• EIA is a global competition that gives students the opportunity to develop innovative ICT ideas in collaboration with Ericsson experts 

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has announced SoundVision, of the University of British Columbia, Canada, as the winning team in the Ericsson Innovation Awards (EIA) 2016.

The SoundVision team has developed a mobile device that converts 3D spatial information into sound so blind individuals can identify their surroundings more effectively. The technology can help create truly inclusive cities where every citizen is empowered.

The winners were chosen at the EIA grand final, held in Stockholm, Sweden on May 26, 2016, by a jury chaired by Charlotta Sund, Head of Region Northern Europe & Central Asia, Ericsson.

Jury members were HRH Prince Daniel; Ann Hellenius, CIO, City of Stockholm; Nicklas Lundblad, Senior Director & Head of EMEA Public Policy and Government Relations, Google; and Mattias Fyrenius, CEO, Nobel Media.

The EIA is a global competition that gives students the opportunity to develop innovative ICT ideas in collaboration with Ericsson experts. A total of 843 teams from 72 countries entered EIA 2016, the theme of which was city life, and four teams were selected for the grand final.

The runner-up results are as follows:

Second place - Airscapes (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US): a collection and augmentation solution for crowd-sourced environmental data, which provides personalized air pollution exposure metrics.

Third place - SherPak (Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy and Frederick University, Cyprus): planar-embedded antennae that turn windows into a communication medium, supported by solar power generation capabilities.                     

Fourth place - Common Spoon (Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain): a communal kitchen, automated grocery and eating space based on micro-transactions that boost local economies, improve environmental outcomes and strengthen social bonds.

YK Sugishita, SoundVision, says: "Our team is passionate about innovation that makes a positive difference, and it has been an amazing experience to work with Ericsson's experts and take the next steps toward commercialization."  

The winning team will receive a cash prize of EUR 25,000, with a second-place prize of EUR 15,000 and two runners-up prizes of EUR 1,000 each. All finalists will be interviewed for internship or full-time positions at Ericsson.

Bina Chaurasia, Chief Human Resource Officer, Ericsson, says: "Innovation forms part of Ericsson's DNA and has kept us at the forefront of our industry for 140 years. The Ericsson Innovation Awards showcase great ideas that can shape the Networked Society. This year's finalists will make a decisive contribution toward tomorrow's smart, sustainable cities."

NOTES TO EDITORS

Picture 1 (L-R): Charlotta Sund, Head of Region Northern Europe & Central Asia, Ericsson; Bina Chaurasia, Chief Human Resource Officer, Ericsson; Tanha Kabir, Karan Grover, YK Sugishita, Jonathan TS Ho, SoundVision; Prince Daniel of Sweden. Photo: Ericsson

Picture 2: SoundVision from the University of British Columbia, Canada, celebrates winning the Ericsson Innovation Awards 2016. Photo: Ericsson

For media kits, backgrounders and high-resolution photos, please visit www.ericsson.com/press

For more information about Ericsson Innovation Awards, please visit

http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/events/eia-2016

Ericsson is the driving force behind the Networked Society - a world leader in communications technology and services. Our long-term relationships with every major telecom operator in the world allow people, business and society to fulfill their potential and create a more sustainable future.

Our services, software and infrastructure - especially in mobility, broadband and the cloud - are enabling the telecom industry and other sectors to do better business, increase efficiency, improve the user experience and capture new opportunities.

With approximately 115,000 professionals and customers in 180 countries, we combine global scale with technology and services leadership. We support networks that connect more than 2.5 billion subscribers. Forty percent of the world's mobile traffic is carried over Ericsson networks. And our investments in research and development ensure that our solutions - and our customers - stay in front.

Founded in 1876, Ericsson has its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Net sales in 2015 were SEK 246.9 billion (USD 29.4 billion). Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX stock exchange in Stockholm and the NASDAQ in New York.

www.ericsson.com 
www.ericsson.com/news
www.twitter.com/ericssonpress
www.facebook.com/ericsson
www.youtube.com/ericsson

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

Ericsson Corporate Communications
Phone: +46 10 719 69 92
E-mail: media.relations@ericsson.com

Ericsson Investor Relations
Phone: +46 10 719 00 00
E-mail: investor.relations@ericsson.com