Editor’s note: North Carolina Regional Internet of Things, or NC RIoT, is expanding its footprint to Charlotte with an upcoming program in the Queen City. NC RIoT co-founder Matthew Davis talks about the move and what the group sees as North Carolina’s new economic opportunity.

RALEIGH, N.C. – With each passing year, we’ll see more devices connecting to the internet – your clothing, home, car, and appliances. Businesses will also increasingly connect their products to the internet. They want to simplify asset tracking, monitor equipment to prevent failure, reduce maintenance costs, and create new business opportunities.

Billions of devices will connect to the internet. Companies building these will need the hardware, sensors, and connectivity to bring them to life. They’ll need the software to manage their devices. They’ll need rock solid security and tight privacy controls to ensure consumer safety. They’ll need sophisticated data analysis tools that simplify millions of unstructured data points in actionable and easy-to-use tools.

Good news!

North Carolina has early momentum in the Internet of Things economy.

NC RIoT, a community of 1,900 Internet of Things professionals and enthusiasts, travels the state hosting IoT events in Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Wilmington, and now Charlotte. We’ve witnessed at each event companies large and small evolving their business strategy to capitalize on IoT. They, like many industry analysts, believe that this will be the 4th Industrial Revolution.

RIoT hosts our first event Charlotte on August 2 to bring this strategic discussion to the Queen City.

We’re thrilled to share that Senator Jeff Jackson will address how policy makers and the state will support IoT. Jeffrey Sural from the NC Department of Information Technology shares how broadband access for all ensures our state’s ability to take advantage of IoT. Dan Roselli, founder of Queen City Fintech explores the intersection of finance and IoT. Raj Lanka of Meridian IT will share strategies on how to stitch various IoT systems together.

Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of IoT as a whole, and how to conduct meaningful discussions at their workplaces about this new technology.

Anyone working in business, finance, academia, government, and health care should attend. IoT touches all of these industries. Our state’s companies and resources in hardware, software, data analytics, and security will increasingly join forces with agriculture, textiles, manufacturing, and finance. The Internet of Things bridges these industries together. Our past strength in all of these areas well-positions us for the future.

Ultimately, RIoT’s goal is to ensure that the above groups understand the implications and opportunity. By working together and walking in stride, we’ll outpace other states and regions in economic development. This ensures our position as a global leader in IoT technology, which in turn will drive further economic growth.

Join us Aug. 2 at UNC Charlotte’s Center City from 6-9 pm. RIoT events are free to attend, and include food and beverage.

Info and registration at:

http://bit.ly/riot-xi