More than 400 startups from 42 countries have applied for the CODE_n Contest “Shaping Mobile Life”. Within the last weeks we have been both amazed and amused by some of the ideas and it was certainly no easy task to select the top 50! Among the various submissions are some surprising and innovative solutions for all aspects of our mobile lives. The ideas include a Collaborative Web Service for live customer advice in online shops, and a storytelling tool that links places with stories based on user-generated content.

A jury will draw up a short list of the ten top innovators for the final stage. Jurors are Gabriele Fischer (brand eins), Lars Hinrichs (HackFwd), Carsten Knop (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung), Paulus Neef (PQuadra), Jens-Uwe Sauer (Seedmatch), Dr. Joseph Reger (Fujitsu) and Prof. Peter Weibel (ZKM). The arrangement of the jury is quite impressive and promises an outstanding expertise. From that short list the winner of the CODE_n Award will be selected and is to be presented during CeBIT on March 8, 2012.

CODE_n will also feature a radical visual backdrop – the like of which has never been seen at CeBIT. Artist Tobias Rehberger and architect Jürgen Mayer H. have blended art and technology to create a unique Innovation Space in the 3,500 square-meter Hall 16 – providing the perfect setting for the CODE_n finalists and a platform for inspiration, dialogue and business.

The competition’s partners will also be showcasing their products and services. In addition to GFT Technologies AG, the global innovation initiative is being supported by Ernst & Young, Fujitsu Technology Solutions, Deutsche Messe AG, industry association BITKOM and the Karlsruhe-based ZKM.

In the following days we will reveal further news regarding the event preparations – be excited!