Excellent attendance figures for the third edition of the Internet of Things Solutions World Congress (IOTSWC), underlining the rapid development and economic importance of this technological sector. The event on the industrial applications of the Internet of Things (IoT) concluded today at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via exhibition centre as part of Barcelona Industry Week, having brought together 240 companies and 13,000 visitors from 114 countries, representing growth of 30% and 60% respectively compared to last year.

Dates: 28-29 November 2017 (pre-forum executive briefing 27 November. Venue: The Crystal, London

Investment in U.S. data centers grew to $18.2bn in the first half of this year, more than double the amount spent in all of 2016, according to a new report. The total includes money spent on building or buying data centers.

Blockchain technology, based on cyber-currencies such as bitcoin, is set to strengthen and guarantee the security and intelligence of Internet of Things (IoT) platforms when it comes to sharing data and doing transactions in numerous sectors, industries and services. To analyse and explain the benefits of this two-way alliance, which will drive the digital transformation of the economy, the IoT Solutions World Congress (IoTSWC) will include a monographic forum on blockchain as well as seminars on crypto economics and investment opportunities in businesses that are already using this system. The two sessions will involve 115 experts from 18 countries, notably the founding director of the Bitcoin Foundation, Jon Matonis, the founder of the Blockchain Investors Consortium, Mike Costache; and Erik Beijnoff, the head of business development at Spotify.

The Internet of Things (IoT) offers huge potential for supply chains to improve efficiency, move faster, and cut costs - at a level unimaginable just a few years ago.