A new Centre for research into the Internet of Things has been established at Birmingham City University.

Located within easy reach of Birmingham International Airport, the new centre will be known as the European Centre of Excellence for Research into the Internet of Things (RIoTLab). It will build on the success of the European Centre of Excellence for AIDC which has now closed to make way for the new centre. RIoTLab will extend research, technology transfer and dissemination of RFID smartcards, real-time location and other key enablers for the Internet of Things and Smart Cities initiatives. RIoTLab will take full advantage of the state of the art facilities at the university and is ideally positioned to leverage new technology developments through extensive links with key players in the ICT sector.

Since its launch in 2007 with EU funding, the original AIDC Centre has hosted more than 2,500 visitors, initially at its site in Halifax, and more recently in Barnsley. It has played a key role in the promotion of RFID and other AIDC technologies for the business and social benefits of the wider European Union and has achieved excellent recognition within the EU for its work in this field. RIoTLab has grown out of this initial EU funded project and will remain a not-for-profit entity supported by Birmingham City University, and will contribute to the university’s research and business engagement agenda by developing and leading new research in this area over the coming years.

AIDC (UK) Ltd was the not-for-profit organisation established to develop, operate and manage the European Centre of Excellence for AIDC. Now that RIoTLab has been established under the stewardship of Birmingham City University, AIDC (UK) Ltd has completed its mission and will therefore go into voluntary liquidation.