Top 5 IoT Conferences to Attend in 2016

At Link Labs, we’ve found that the fastest way to stay ahead in the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem is to attend the most influential industry events. While hundreds of conferences exist worldwide, five stand out for their depth, prestige, and impact.

1. Sensors Expo & Conference

The Sensors Expo is widely regarded as the nation’s leading event dedicated exclusively to sensors and sensor‑integrated systems. The 2016 edition marks its 31st anniversary, making it one of the longest‑running industry gatherings. Scheduled for June 21‑23 in San Jose, California, the conference attracted leaders from Apple, Microsoft, Airbus, SpaceX, Tesla, and many others in 2015. A full list of 2016 exhibitors is available here. The Expo offers focused technical sessions and hands‑on classes that showcase the latest sensing technologies.

2. Internet of Things World Forum (IoTWF)

Hosted by Cisco, the Internet of Things World Forum (IoTWF) highlights the dramatic transformations reshaping every global sector through IoT. The third‑year event took place in Dubai from December 6‑8, 2015. Attendance is by invitation only, drawing high‑level decision makers from Boeing, Ericsson, GM, Bell, Toshiba, AT&T, and more. According to Cisco’s information sheet, the conference features over 30 industry‑specific breakout sessions, more than 35 hours of networking, 13 keynote speakers, and a portfolio of real‑world demos. If you receive an invitation to the 2016 IoTWF (location TBD), we strongly recommend attending.

3. IoT Evolution Expo

IoT Evolution is a long‑standing conference series that includes five events and a major exhibition floor. The first 2016 meeting will be held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, from January 25‑28. Steve Wozniak, Apple co‑founder and former keynote speaker, has praised the Expo as “very representative of modern day technology and the new state of the art.” The event consistently attracts analyst attendance and offers a broad view of emerging IoT trends.

4. Internet of Things World Events

Internet of Things World is the largest and most comprehensive IoT conference, with editions in the U.S. and Europe. The focus is on monetizing the IoT revolution by bringing together ecosystem stakeholders and investors. The 2016 U.S. event will take place May 10‑12 in Silicon Valley, drawing more than 10,000 attendees and 150 exhibitors. Speakers include:

• Latif Ladid, President of the IPv6 Forum
• Dr. Harsh Kupwade‑Patil, Staff IoT Security Engineer at LG Electronics Mobile Research
• Johan Sys, Manager of IoT Security at Verizon
• Other industry thought leaders

The 2016 European event is scheduled for September 26‑28 in Berlin. While speaker line‑ups are pending, the 2015 event featured:

• Charles Cai, Head of Data Science Technology for BP
• François Girodolle, Head of Product Partnerships at Nest
• Hans Dahlberg, VP Global M2M Services at Teliasonera

5. LiveWorx IoT Conference

Hosted by PTC/Thingworx, LiveWorx is a leading IoT conference that emphasizes visionary keynotes and real‑world use cases. The 2016 U.S. event will run June 6‑9 in Boston, featuring industry luminaries, leading manufacturers, and pioneering customers. The 2015 U.S. conference can be viewed in a highlight reel here, and the 2015 European conference in Germany drew over 2,500 attendees.

What IoT conferences are you looking forward to in 2016? Tweet us at @LinkLabsInc and let us know!