Radio Frequency IDentification and the Internet of Things

New, The second call 5 (framework 7 Work programme 09 -10 objective 1.3) information day is scheduled for September 16, 2009 (info day presentations online) (Changed closing date of call 5: October 26, 2009) (February 18, 2009 info day presentations online.)

The European Commission has set up an informal working group (more information) on the implementation of the RFID Recommendation adopted on May 12th, 2009 (see library). The kick-off meeting of this group, which will meet every three months, took place on July 8th (email INFSO-IOT-EUROPE@ec.europa.eu for more information). Topics addressed by the working group are: Privacy and Data Protection Impact Assessment (PIA); security applications; information policy including logos; retail specific provisions; awareness raising; research and development.

Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the EESC and the committee of the Regions: Internet of Things - An action plan for Europe (June 18 2009).

Information day on the Factories of the Future (July 13 2009 Brussels) calls also for IoT applications in manufacturing.

New in library: Internet of the Future and Internet of things: What is at stake and how are we getting prepared for them? (Speech, Oslo, September 2009)

Did you know that objects can identify themselves and soon will be able to network (IoT)?

Take one example: a suitcase itself can indicate which plane it should be sent to. This is possible thanks to Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID). With RFID, more and more objects communicate with each other, slowly creating a network of information, a so-called "internet of things".

This network could potentially make our lives much easier… No need to worry about your suitcase being sent to the wrong plane anymore! But we must also be careful about how we use it, and avoid certain pitfalls.

Current trends

Current trends and forecasts indicate that the RFID market will grow fast in the next 10 years. While cumulative sales of RFID tags have totalled 2.4 billion over the past 60 years, with 600 million tags being sold in 2005 alone, the value of the market, including hardware, systems and services, is expected to be multiplied by 10 between 2006 and 2016. The number of tags delivered in 10 years will be over 450 times the number actually to be delivered this year.

Learn more about RFID and the Internet of Things

How does it work? How could it help? What kind of debates does it generate? Why and how can the EU help?

New (03/2009) RFID in Europe federating network
EU research efforts on RFID and Internet of Things (updated 03/2009)
Commission publishes website on the Internet of Things more
RFID Video
RFID Visit the Future