Annually, Cisco’s Companion Innovation Problem jogs my memory of one thing easy however highly effective: our companions aren’t simply constructing options — they’re constructing what’s subsequent.
Immediately, I’m proud to launch the eighth Annual World Companion Innovation Problem — and it’s our greatest, boldest yr but. With almost $1 million in prizes, this yr’s problem displays the exponential tempo of innovation we’ve seen throughout the Cisco ecosystem over the previous 12 months.
Final yr’s winners confirmed us what’s attainable when imaginative and prescient meets execution.
Presidio took the grand prize with their SignBridge answer, delivering real-time American Signal Language interpretation in Webex conferences by a devoted video feed. Utilizing superior diffusion fashions, this answer creates visible representations of spoken content material, fostering inclusivity in workplaces, faculties, and healthcare settings. SignBridge represents the form of forward-thinking innovation that breaks down communication limitations for hundreds of thousands globally.
Madison Applied sciences received the AI Innovation Award with their “Stage Crossing Security with AI” answer, enhancing railway intersection security by Cisco Meraki MV52 cameras, IR1101 Industrial IoT routers, and edge computing. Initially in idea stage when awarded, the funding served as a catalyst for deeper use case validation and commercialization. The answer now gives real-time monitoring and alerts for unsafe circumstances, serving to railway operators meet Australia’s stringent security necessities whereas enhancing operational effectivity.
These are simply two examples of what can occur when Cisco companions take our platform and run with it. And this yr, we’re going even additional.
2025 Award Highlights
- $250,000 World Grand Prize — the very best ever awarded.
- The return of the AI Innovation Award ($200K), celebrating real-world functions of synthetic intelligence.
- Continued concentrate on Partnering for Goal, with $25K awards in numerous classes.
At Cisco, we’ve spent the final yr accelerating our innovation throughout safety, observability, hybrid work, and AI. However we all know that scale and influence occur with our companions. The Companion Innovation Problem exists to spark these breakthroughs, elevate our shared success, and switch concepts into international alternatives.
Submissions are open now and shut September 5, 2025.
Winners might be introduced dwell at Companion Summit 2025 in San Diego. Whether or not you’re already constructing or simply getting began, that is your second. I can’t wait to see what you create.
We’d love to listen to what you assume. Ask a Query, Remark Under, and Keep Linked with #CiscoPartners on social!
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