EVANSTON, Ill., 17 Feb. 2008. The Illinois Homeland Security Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Northwestern University (HSIEC) announced the Innovation Challenge Grant competition to encourage Illinois-based companies to develop technologies related to the needs of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m., March 21, 2008.
The Innovation Challenge Grant competition is seeking Illinois-based companies with innovative technologies that specifically address the stated technology needs of the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), such as border security, cargo security, chem/bio defense, cyber security, explosives prevention, people screening, incident management, information sharing, infrastructure protection, interoperability and maritime security.
The Innovation Challenge Grant competition will award up to six Illinois-based companies with the opportunity to engage with Civitas Group, a Washington, DC-based strategic advisory and investment firm serving the homeland and national security markets. The Civitas Group project is valued at up to $25,000. Successful candidates will be awarded an HSIEC Challenge Grant of up to $12,500, which requires a 100 percent cash match by the winners.
The application for the Innovation Challenge Grant, along with complete rules and instructions, can be found on the HSIEC Web site at www.hsiec.org. Award application assistance is available by calling HSIEC at 847-491-7600.
