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DEFEND AMERICA CHALLENGE A SUCCESS
ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 22, 2007) - - - Scantech Holdings, LLC (national winner) and Sensics, Inc. (Maryland winner) took home $50,000 each as winners of the first Defend America Challenge, the Chesapeake Innovation Center's (CIC) national homeland security tech business plan competition. The CIC is Anne Arundel County 's business incubator – the first homeland security incubator in the nation. The event took place on Friday, January 19 at the Loews Annapolis Hotel. Six finalists, selected from more than 50 business plans submitted, presented their innovative business plans before a panel of 8 judges and over 160 attendees as part of the national competition. Judging criteria included market need, intellectual property, business viability, and presentation. The Maryland winner was selected prior to the event by the investment selection committee of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO). Both winners were announced at the conclusion of the event. Top National Winner Scantech ( Atlanta , GA ) assembles and markets sophisticated high-energy electron beam and X-ray inspection systems. The X-ray beams can be used for non-intrusive inspection of large vehicles and cargo shipping containers to detect contraband such as weapons, explosives, and other implements of terror. Top Maryland Winner Sensics ( Baltimore , MD ) enables a new generation of virtual prototyping, training, visualization, entertainment and remote presence applications, delivering upgradeable, lightweight, panoramic head-mounted displays that cover a wide range of performance and budget requirements. “The Defend America Challenge event brought together a terrific group of innovative entrepreneurs and high level homeland security representatives,” said Laura Neuman, CIC Interim Executive Director. “Our mission is to bridge the gap between innovation in technology and the homeland security marketplace and this event helped us meet that mission. We hope to make the Defend America Challenge an annual event,” she continued. “Representatives from the companies competing in the Defend America Challenge had a chance to see first hand that Anne Arundel County is a technology leader,” said Robert Hannon, Chairman of the CIC Board of Directors and president and CEO of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation. “By drawing attention to our strengths, this event helps us encourage business investment in Anne Arundel County .” Also at the event, the CIC presented its first Defender of the Flag award to Jeff Chapman, Founder of Harbinger Technologies Group, in recognition of his efforts in response to 9/11 to develop innovative technology to help defend our homeland. The award was presented by Vice Admiral James Hull, former Commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area and Maritime Defense Zone Atlantic and current Homeland Security, National Defense, and Maritime Affairs consultant. Luncheon speakers were David Silverberg, Editor of Homeland Security Today and Anirban Basu, CEO of Sage Policy Group. County Executive John Leopold opened the competition with a short welcome to all. Speakers during the competition included Scott Borg, Director and Chief Economist of the U.S. Cyber Consequences Unit , and a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Digital Strategies , Tuck School of Business , Dartmouth College and Stephen M. Fredrick , a Principal at Grotech Capital, www.grotech.com , where he focuses on investment opportunities in the software, communications, and IT services sectors. CHESAPEAKE INNOVATION CENTER The Chesapeake Innovation Center , located in the “informatics corridor” of Anne Arundel County , Maryland , is a business accelerator that focuses the power of entrepreneurship on America 's national security requirements. By creating a bridge between major users of security technology and small companies at the forefront of innovation, the CIC, its partners and member companies are able to offer significant advancements in the areas of informatics, energy, physical and cyber security technologies. The CIC has partnerships strategic to America 's national security which include public and private sector entities. CIC identifies and screens early stage technology companies and connects those that match the criteria to a valuable network of industry leading partners in those sectors. Current partners include The Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman Corporation, ARINC, the National Security Agency and Athlone Global Security. Founding sponsors include DLA Piper and Sidus Group. CIC mentors companies and assists them with customer contracts, funding, staffing, subject matter experts, clearances, government contracting issues, and office facilities. The CIC is the intersection of innovation, patriotism and capitalism. Photo Caption: Winner of the Defend America Challenge, Dolan Falconer, President and CEO of Scantech Holdings, LLC, accepts his $50,000 prize from Laura Neuman, Interim Executive Director of the Chesapeake Innovation Center and Robert Hannon, Chairman of the CIC Board of Directors and President and CEO of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation.
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