Only the Fast and Creative Survive – Hot IoT Finals at IIID

At the Iran International Innovation District (IIID), thirteen top teams from an initial 116 have reached the finals of the TechOlympics's Internet of Things (IoT) competition, where mastering complex cybersecurity and hardware challenges will crown the champions.

Shiva Mohammadi, executive secretary of the IoT competition, said the event attracted participants aged 13 to 30, organized into 116 teams. The qualifying stage used the national innovation factory network, with regional contests in four innovation factories: Shiraz, Mashhad, HamAva Tehran, and Kermanshah. From these, 13 teams earned places in the finals.

The finals feature two main challenge categories:

• Cybersecurity in IoT: Half the competition focuses on securing IoT networks, where sensors and gateways connect to servers, clouds, or MQTT brokers. Teams use a dedicated smart platform to submit solutions, with speed determining bonus points.
• Hardware (Things): The other half tests device performance using smart equipment, gateways, and sensors. Teams receive electronic boards and components to implement both the software interface and physical hardware, presenting results on dashboards. On-site judges evaluate and score the hardware.

If a team claims completion and the judges verify accuracy, they receive full points. Incorrect submissions eliminate that specific challenge for the team. The four-day finals present new challenges daily, with submissions accepted until the day's end.

Mohammadi noted that the finalists, with strong skills in hardware, electronics, software, and computer science, are expected to bring innovative solutions. She added that IoT is still a relatively new field in Iran and globally, requiring interdisciplinary expertise and teamwork, which explains the smaller number of participants compared to other contests. Despite this, the 2025 competition's turnout exceeded expectations, highlighting a strong interest and growth potential for IoT in the country.