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André Winzer

Global search for AI innovators

The T Challenge and its role in transforming the telecommunications industry through open innovation

In a world shaped by rapid technological progress, the telecommunications industry faces the challenge of finding innovative ways to keep pace with change. Deutsche Telekom AG has chosen an approach to tackle this challenge: the principle of outside-in innovation. Now in its fourth round, the innovation competition “T Challenge” focuses on applications of artificial intelligence (AI), a field that has seen explosive growth in recent years.

Another innovation competition? New topic, new luck? Can’t large corporations do this themselves? If these questions are buzzing around in your head, we recommend taking a closer look at the principle of outside-in innovation.
Companies such as Deutsche Telekom AG

As almost everywhere, this is about impact. To achieve far-reaching and lasting impact and to learn from one another, it is important to stress that the goal is to get real innovative power on the road – and to do so together.

T Challenge 2024 – AI for communications

The stage is global. With T-Mobile US, a corporation like the magenta telecommunications giant also has a strong partner that offers the opportunity to present your own innovative ideas across the Atlantic as well and to use this stage as a springboard.

In its fourth edition of the “T Challenge” this year, Deutsche Telekom AG is putting applications of artificial intelligence (AI) center stage. The hype around artificial intelligence has grown considerably in recent years as more and more companies and industries recognize the transformative power of this technology.

It’s a shark tank where speed and real innovation are what count. The bigger the funding round, the more likely AI companies are to establish themselves with an “Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)” model. This involves both horizontal and vertical integration. The “window of opportunity” is closing rapidly, and in this industry the network economy is firmly entrenched and merciless.

A look at the landscape of AI start-ups makes it immediately clear that, on the one hand, there is fierce competition among large language models and that the graveyard of AI projects keeps growing. In this context, jointly minimizing risks and application-driven innovation in collaboration with economically strong partners are becoming increasingly important.

External sources of innovation, such as process or technology innovations, can build on existing topics, markets and customers through cooperation. In this way, they enable fast, user-centered learning cycles. Each cooperation partner focuses on its specific competencies and business processes.

The decisive factor in open innovation competitions

For most open innovation competitions, such as the “T Challenge,” one thing really comes first: someone has to actually believe your story! It is crucial to develop a “proof of concept” that underlines your added value as an innovator. The focus is above all on ability and know-how. Any alternative approach would just waste time.

What’s in it for me?

Large companies stand out for their strong ecosystems, efficient processes and openness to collaboration. Continuously sharpening their competitive advantages and introducing new offerings for customers are of fundamental importance.
Ideally, they find an innovation partner who gives them a comprehensive understanding of the market, helps them maintain stamina and win additional customers for their offerings.
Culturally, the interplay should not be underestimated. Agile structures can become more resilient, and easier access to the market could prove to be a global springboard.

The AI “GraphCast” in use, with rollout potential for weather forecasting providers – precision and energy efficiency for weather prediction

With “GraphCast,” published in Science, a research team has achieved a significant advance in weather forecasting. This AI-based method uses machine learning to learn from historical weather data and delivers precise global forecasts for the next 10 days in just one minute. The significance of GraphCast is immense. GraphCast stands out for its ability to outperform the most accurate existing deterministic systems on 90% of 1,380 verification targets, making it a precise and fast tool, especially for predicting severe weather events.

This advance impressively shows how a small team can have a big impact with AI innovations. GraphCast implemented and deployed by large companies means more efficient and cost-effective weather forecasts with a fraction of the data. It could change the way global weather data providers work and lead to better decisions in various social and economic areas.

Perhaps this will also motivate you to develop your own AI ideas and bring them to open innovation challenges like the “T Challenge.”

Do you have an innovative solution, application or a suitable product?

Seize the opportunity and apply! Would you like to discuss it? Then get in touch. The T Labs team, the organizers of the competition, will support you throughout the application process. In addition, the winners will have the opportunity to further develop their solutions together with experts from Telekom and T-Mobile US.

Claudia Nemat, Board Member for Technology and Innovation at Deutsche Telekom AG, emphasizes the importance of the competition in the press release for this year’s “T Challenge”: “Every year, the T Challenge sends a signal for innovative strength. Now we want to apply artificial intelligence in innovative ways. How, for example, can AI help us manage our network better? How can it improve the customer experience? That’s what we’ll explore in the next T Challenge. Together with T-Mobile US. What matters here: acting responsibly.”

Submissions are possible until January 26, 2024.

At www.t-challenge.com interested parties will find all the information about the “T Challenge.” Participation is free of charge.

Disclaimer: We provide our innovation competition software PEACOQ for Deutsche Telekom AG and the “T Challenge.” Nevertheless, we can report from our own observations. What we see here is genuine cooperation, not window dressing. Ultimately, it’s not about the final photo at the award ceremony; it’s about real innovation that is brought to life and nurtured together. Without a division of labor between innovator and global player, success would be considerably riskier.

Further reading on the topic