The competition is open to any UK-based company working in the mobile industry that can demonstrate a new product or service that has the potential to change the way people use mobiles across the world. The winner will be crowned The UK’s Most Innovative Mobile Company at Mobile World Congress 2012 – the industry’s largest exhibition.

Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, said:

“Future growth depends on our ability to generate new ideas that have a real global reach.  The UK has already had an enormous impact on the global mobile market and this competition aims to highlight the future stars of the industry.

“Mobile World Congress is the event that sets the agenda for the mobile industry.  The finalists and winning company will have the opportunity for their ideas to gain exposure to the global industry. I wish all of the companies taking part success.”

Nominations for The UK’s Most Innovative Mobile Company are open now until Wednesday 14 December 2011. Shortlisted companies will win pitching support, a place at a media networking event before Mobile World Congress and global exposure through various media channels.

The finalists will feature at Mobile World Congress where they will present their company to an expert panel of judges. The UK’s Most Innovative Mobile Company will be announced on 29 February at Mobile World Congress 2012. The winner will be showcased at a high profile UKTI event during 2012.

Companies wishing to enter the competition can do so at www.smartukproject.co.uk.

UK Fact file

• UK Trade & Investment helps around 25,000 firms each year to generate an additional £5bn of profits. UK Trade & Investment helps firms identify where international opportunities fit for them.

• ONS figures show the telecoms industry generated £62.2 billion in 2008.

• Technology designed by UK company ARM is used in more than 95 per cent of the world’s mobile handsets. (ARM May 2010)

• The UK is Europe’s leading market for software and IT services with a market value of 50 billion Euros in 2010. (EITO)

• The total IT & telecoms workforce in the UK comprises 1.5 million people – 5 per cent of the current workforce. (OECD)

• The UK is a strong market with consumers of technology spending an estimated £110 billion on ICT products and services in 2009. (EITO)