The American Security Challenge
Moving Innovation to Market
What is the objective of the American Security Challenge? What are the benefits to Sponsors? Almost every industry has cybersecurity concerns (network security, information assurance, malware detection/mitigation and many other applications). Retailers, healthcare providers, media/publishing, financial services, internet/communications, travel, transportation, shipping and entertainment companies are ALL concerned about network integrity and data protection regarding identify theft, financial and customer data, trade secrets, denial of service and other issues neccessary for customer service/confidence, business operations, competitiveness and survival. Obvious defensive as well as offensive cyber needs of the federal government include users within the defense, homeland and intelligence communities. Many different industries benefit from informatics..... mining of their data to identify patterns and anomalies to improve customer service or increase market share. For instance, universities benefit from algorithms and data mining tools to identify patterns in student interests or faculty performance to improve student services. Perhaps most common use is manufacturers, transportation, shipper, banking, lodging, entertainment and retailer firms mining their data to discover customer and market patters that recognize ways to improve customer retention, or identify market opportunities. Obvious offensive and defense applications exist in today’s federal government including users within the defense, homeland and intelligence communities. Physical Security Physical security technologies include an array IED/CBRNE/WMD sensor detection and mitigation, perimeter security, facility/room access controls and standoff tools. These are used in virtually every mid to large organization regardless of industry to manage access to facilities and gain situational awareness of surrounding areas. The federal government is a large consumer of these tools for offensive and defensive capabilities domestically, at our borders and abroad. High Speed Computing In high speed computing environments with massive amounts of data that needs to be processed, stored, accessed, and distributed quickly, many technologies come into play to help end users….especially if the data has large files such as images or video. These files requiring more storage space and more complicated cooling to address the heat from the servers. These files also require faster processing Input/Output (I/O) for users to access the data in real time. This of course has to occur with privacy and security issues in mind. As utility companies move to smart grids, they will be processing millions/billions of transactions per minute and need to manage this in real time, which requires the upgrading of their high speed computing and storage. Financial services firms have high speed computing needs to manage real-time data feeds of millions/billions of transactions per minute and have similar high speed computing and storage issues. Manufacturers and retailers with website storefronts continuously require faster access to data (I/O) and file management for large file images. This also requires faster/larger servers, which needs more space and cooling, etc. Several industries have exponential growth in the number and size of their large image, video, voice and data requires more/cheaper storage, faster access/distribution, larger/faster servers, space/cooling issues, etc. these industries include healthcare with the medical research and patient records; media and publishing companies who compete to offer customers more services, and instant access to video (streaming), image, voice and other fat files, and internet/communications firms who are dealing with more and larger files. File access speed is essential in these businesses and accordingly these firms have common I/O, processing and storage issues. Government entities have similar processing, storage and I/O issues. A few DHS applications include real-time data feeds from stationary, chopper and UAV cameras essential for border agents scouting for illegals crossing, vessel boarding coast guarders, drug enforcement agents surveilling drug activity, national guardsmen checking plume data real-time during a chemical spill; or as databases are accessed and searched to find patterns and truthfulness as customs agents interview an individual about their trip/past, and airline checkpoint agents questioning a passenger after they failed initial screening. A few DOD applications include real-time situational awareness for warfighters on the ground, UAV pilots operating remotely, air support and more. The explosive growth of sensors, handheld devices, unmanned platforms and MEMS has created products with an unquenchable thirst for energy...constantly striving for cheaper power, from smaller , lighter and longer lasting batteries. The explosion of these devices is occurring in civilian and military government, commercial sectors and consumers. Portable power is also desired by public and private organizations for dictator recovery, continuity planning and mobile operations. Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Any industry with large fleets of vehicles is struggling to keep their vehicle fuel costs down. Many private sector industries have substantial transportation fuel costs including utilities, shippers and communications firms. Similarly, many federal agencies have substantial fuel consuming operations including Marines (Afghanistan fuel use is 800,000 gallons per day), Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Customs Border Patrol, NASA and Drug Enforcement Agency. Energy Conservation Similar to those interested in vehicle/transportation fuel conservation are those with large real estate footprints needing to lower their energy costs. Organizations with high inventories of buildings include hospitals, REITs, hotels, manufacturers, universities, and almost every fortune 2000 firm. Lowering energy costs for these organizations by just 10% would mean billions of dollars saved and less energy consumed. Most states are large property owners and the federal GSA, which owns most of the buildings for federal agencies, is one of the largest property owners/managers in the world. Energy conservation technologies could also be applied to disaster recovery and military operational applications. What are the Judging Criteria? Applicability to national security: Is the product/technology helpful in defending homeland or national security? Does it protect one of the 17 areas of critical infrastructure? Viability and uniqueness of the innovation and what competitive insulation does it enjoy: i.e. is it an enabler or new application- does the company have patents or patents pending on the technology- does the intellectual property provide a competitive advantage? Viability of the business regarding the management team: Is this a team that understands the requirements of building a company and can take the company to the next stage? Capitalization Plan: Does the company have enough money or an achievable plan for raising money and how likely is raising money? Marketing Plan: Has the company identified/penetrated appropriate markets for their product? The Reviewers and Judges may be members of the private or public sectors, industry, investors and others related to the technology commercialization process. All Reviewer and Judges are selected at the sole discretion of the National Security Initiative? When the six finalists are selected, finalists will be required to disclose any prior relationship to or with the judges of the ASC. If a conflict of interest exists, the judge will be replaced at ASC's discretion?
Why is the American Security Challenge important?
What are the benefits to Applicants?
Who can enter the competition?
What about the sponsors? Why are they involved?
What are the benefits to Sponsors?
What is a "dual use" technology?
What are the Judging Criteria?
What is the objective of the American Security Challenge?
The objective of the ASC is to help protect America by bringing innovative technology to the attention of potential investors, customers, strategic partners and serial entrepreneurs so that the probability of new technologies getting to market is increased while the time/cost it takes to get to market is decreased.
Why is the American Security Challenge important?
Too often good ideas never leave the drawing board because there are simply not enough resources to bring them to commercialization. For example, one of the major problems during 9/11 was that the F.D.N.Y was unable to track and communicate with their firefighters inside the Twin Towers. The Ft. Monmouth New Jersey Chief of Fire and Emergency Services and the Chief of their Tactical Wireless Network Division have created a technology that allows any incident commander to see every one of their responders on a scene -- inside or outside a building. Currently, no one has the capacity to do that. This technology, however, cannot reach incident commanders or fire chiefs because the project has no further funding. It has stalled on the verge of commercialization because there are no more dollars. No project that can have such a huge impact on the lives of our citizens and on those who protect us should be DOA because of funding. The money is out there - and the American Security Challenge is the mechanism by which we assure that those who need it, get it.
Who can enter the competition?
The Challenge is open to any emerging growth company anchored by innovative technology. For more information See Rules and Eligibility section
What about the sponsors? Why are they involved?
Sponsors include many links in the innovation chain including the end customers and resellers, development capital sources, commercialization capital investors, and experienced advisors. Sponsors of the event include all types of integrators, venture capital firms, entrepreneurs and others involved in technology financing. They are involved for the significant opportunities to:
Identify emerging technologies and potential relationships from the estimated 220+ applicants
Establish/improve relationships with members of the public and private national security community
Identify technologies for possible licensing or investment
Benefit from comprehensive marketing and public relations efforts
Incorporated into substantial DHS Stakeholder conference marketing
Concerted promotion efforts in Maryland and Virginia within university, incubator and federal lab channels.
Collaboration and visibility in private sector through angel, venture capital and technology association channels.
In addition to that listed above, sponsors not only get exposure as supporters of a vibrant, emerging technology market, they receive exclusive access to the Challenger applicants and evaluation by the reviewers. The Challenge is the nation's foremost vehicle to brand a sponsor's company as an expert in a particular security space and build their network of quality innovative solution providers. Networking in this community is tremendous.
What is a "dual use" technology?
Dual use technologies have more than one application. Often a technology that is useful in one industry may also be useful in other industries. Examples include:
Cyber Security
Location based technologies that monitor inventory, people, vehicles and other assets are used by many companies and many federal departments/agencies for security as well as performance (delivering on time) purposes.
Portable Power
Reviewers will consider:
Selections and awards made by the ASC,prize partners, judges and reviewers are final and binding, and remain at ASC's or its collaborators' sole discretion.