‘Most Promising Security Idea’ competition, sponsored by Accenture, is launched today by the Global Security Challenge

The Global Security Challenge (GSC), providers of the leading international competition for security innovators, today announced the launch of the Most Promising Security Idea award. The award includes a $10,000 cash grant, sponsored by Accenture, as well as mentorship from the Civitas Group.

The award aims to identify, explore and reward innovation in the field of homeland security
technology. Its goal is to support and promote researchers, infant companies and other
inventors, and ensure valuable new technologies can develop and prosper.

• Applicants can enter online using on the Security Competition's webpage.
  
• Entry is free and all entrants will gain feedback on their submissions.
  
• The deadline for submissions is 1 September 2009.
• The awarding ceremony for the Most Promising Security Idea will take place during the GSC Security Summit held at London Business School on 13 November 2009.

HOMErgent won the GSC’s Most Promising Security Idea award in 2008. Commenting on the award, Arthur Zwern, Co-Founder of HOMErgent, said: "Winning the Most Promising Security Idea award in 2008 has provided important credibility to HOMErgent. Our progress towards
initial product launch has certainly accelerated as a result of our participation, and we
greatly appreciate Accenture for making this GSC award possible.”

Dr. Alastair MacWillson, managing director of Accenture’s Global Security business, stated:
“Accenture is pleased to sponsor the Global Security Challenge for the fourth year. By
encouraging inventors and researchers to pursue their ideas, the GSC helps nurture cutting
edge security technologies, which can ultimately help build more sustainable and secure
organizations.”

The founders of the GSC, Simon Schneider and Janeen Chupa, commented in a joint
statement: “The Global Security Challenge is the launching pad for early-stage security
technologies. We are proud that our top contenders from previous competitions have
subsequently raised over $52 million in fresh capital.”

The Most Promising Security Start-Up in 2008 is TRX Systems

Disruptive Indoor Tracking Solution Wins Global Security Challenge 2008

TRX Systems was awarded a $500,000 grant sponsored by TSWG of the U.S. Government for winning the 3rd annual Global Security Challenge (GSC) today. Six security startups, who were chosen out of hundreds of entrants, pitched their inventions at an event hosted by London Business School.

A Judging Committee comprised of leaders from government, venture capital and industry selected this year’s most promising security startup in the world.

TRX Systems, a spin off from the University of Maryland in the USA is a leading innovator in the development of personnel tracking solutions. TRX Systems created an advanced personnel tracking system that provides first responders with accurate and real-time locations of individuals deployed inside a building. TRX’s technology is self-contained, requires no pre-existing infrastructure and can even create virtual floor maps in real-time. (www.trxsystems.com)

GSC Security Technology Summit in London - 13 November 2008

The GSC Grand Final will occur on November 13th 2008 at London Business School.

It is a full-day event with speakers from government, industry, venture capital and startups. The event allows great networking opportunities with the world's leading security venture capital funds and technologists.

Confirmed Speakers Include: Chris Darby, CEO of In-Q-Tel (CIA's venture capital fund) John Reid, MP and former UK Home Office Secretary Stephen Dennis, Technical Director of HSARPA, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Colin Matthews, CEO of BAA Paul Wiles, Chief Scientific Advisor, UK Home Office General Victor Renuart, Commander of U.S. Northern Command, US Department of Defense Ronald Noble, Secretary General, INTERPOL

New Global Security Challenge Webpage Goes *LIVE*

Exciting News: After two years of using our first webpage, the new, advanced webpage for the Global Security Challenge went online today!

Check it out, we think its pretty cool and are eager to hear your comments.

The URL is the same one as always: www.globalsecuritychallenge.com



Interaction & Research
The new GSC homepage aims to be very interactive and includes the following features:

• our blog articles with research on security that we publish twice a week
• an online application system for the competition's entrants
• information on our advisory services
• ... and soon an online community for security startups.

Standoff Detection - what are the benchmarks for such technologies?

One of the most difficult problems to solve in security technologies in the ability to know whether a person holds or a vehicle contains explosives. As we discuss standoff technologies today let’s first make sure that we are talking about the same thing.

Remote detection technologies allow personnel to respond to the threat of a suspicious object by taking a sample or a ‘sniff’ up close. This affords the luxury of getting results from a safer, remote distance. These remote detection technologies are not the technologies we’ll talk about today. While very important, today we are looking at situations where both the responder and the technology are removed from the situation.

There are many options in designing a standoff detection system. Should the sensor sniff for chemicals (in any stage of life) or should it rely on detecting different parts of the bomb such as wires or triggers. Also should it be ground based system or what about an air borne platform?

Last month TSWG posted requirements of its explosives subgroup. Their requirements should be a good benchmark for what standoff detectors should meet if they will bring innovation to this area. Here are the goals listed for explosive detection in vehicles:

And TSWG's requirements for explosives carried on someone’s person:
If your technology meets or exceeds these requirements you should enter the Global Security Challenge 2008.

New IT-Security Partner: Microsoft

Microsoft Parnership

We are pleased to announce that Microsoft decided to become a formal partner of the Global Security Challenge. We are excited about this development as we have already worked closely with Microsoft leaders in various parts of the world and this new partnership underscores Microsoft's commitment to the mission of the GSC.


Ed Gibson - Microsoft's Chief Security Advisor

One of our strongest advisors to the Global Security Challenge is Ed Gibson, who has supported us from our beginnings in 2006. Ed is the Chief Security Advisor of Microsoft Ltd in the UK. His primary role is to serve as an advisor to Microsoft’s customers, and the public, on the work Microsoft is doing to improve the security of its products. This role comes on the heels of his retirement from 20-year career as a Supervisory Special Agent with the FBI. During this period, Gibson was a recognized expert in investigating complex, international money laundering schemes, asset identification and confiscation, and intellectual property theft. From early 2000 to mid 2005, Mr Gibson was assigned to the FBI’s Legal Attache office, US Embassy in London, as an Assistant Legal Attaché. There, he was responsible for all FBI cyber, hitech, cyber-terrorism, and infrastructure investigations in the UK.

In a recent interview, Ed describes Microsoft's security strategy:
"As I always say, it’s about people, process and technology and at Microsoft our security strategy is very much aligned to these three areas. The threat landscape is continually evolving and challenges appear in the form of malware, inappropriate security policies and the regulatory environment. Our security efforts are therefore focussed on the area of partnerships, innovation and prescriptive guidance. Microsoft is working in partnership with Government and industry groups to thwart security threats."

(...for the full interview, click here)