A company which created a delegate badge that also acts as a metro ticket has been named the winner of EIBTM’s Technology Watch competition.

ITN International was selected out of a record 56 entries for its innovative work on the Citywide Attendee Credential System for IBC, an Amsterdam-based trade show for broadcasting, media and entertainment professionals.

The initiative used near field communication (NFC) technology to produce delegate badges, which could also be used to ride on the Amsterdam metro free-of-charge.

Mike Sorgani, ITN International’s VP of sales and marketing, said: “We hand-picked 150 registrants to receive a badge that the city of Amsterdam provided us with. We printed a metro ticket on a plastic badge and then encoded the chip with registrant information.  They were able to use their badge to enter the metro and at a citywide programme of retail partners, museums and restaurants for discounts. This is the first badge that we know of that has been able to unlock the experience inside the event as well as outside.”

Judge Corbin Ball added: “The judges thought the partnership across the city was a really interesting one. NFC badges can help recognise the economic impact across the city.”

Finalists included an app by Active Network, GenieMobile’s content management system, Triqle Event’s interactive programme, ‘What’s On’ and Wifarer’s inside navigation system.