OREANDA-NEWS. The automotive industry and tech companies large and small can work together to transform urban mobility and improve lives in today’s connected world.

This will be the message from Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford at Web Summit in Dublin, one of the world’s leading technology gatherings. The great-grandson of Henry Ford will emphasise that collaboration between start-ups, entrepreneurs, inventors, and technology companies will be critical in coming up with new solutions for tomorrow’s biggest transportation challenges.

Bill Ford will be interviewed on the Centre Stage by Bloomberg News broadcaster Caroline Hyde at 14:00 GMT tomorrow. The interview can be viewed live on the Web Summit YouTube channel.

Ahead of Web Summit, Bill Ford will meet with developers participating in a 24-hour challenge to design apps for SYNC, Ford’s voice activated, in-car connectivity system. The SYNC AppLink Developer Challenge Dublin, which started at 09:00 GMT today, is organised with Web Summit and will give programmers a chance at ?55,000 (€75,000) prize money and the opportunity to develop new apps with Ford.

In addition, the company is joining forces with leading advisory firm WeiserMazars to offer services worth ?18,000 (€25,000) for winning entrants, including ?15,000 (€20,000) to be shared between the top three places and ?4,000 (€5,000) for fourth place. Services offered will include assistance with fundraising; consulting services; structuring services; and tax work, accounting and financial services.

Also at Web Summit, Don Butler, executive director, Ford Connected Vehicle and Services, will deliver a speech entitled: “Car Connectivity: How Software is Changing the Driving Experience.” The speech will be on the Machine Stage at 14:50 GMT on Nov. 4. Ford will also demonstrate some of its latest technology projects on its stand at Machine Summit 4.