Global Security Challenge

Straight from the Under Secretary's Mouth: $$$ for security innovation

DHS Under Secretary for S&T, Jay Cohen, spoke on the hill about how his directorate gives out money.  The main goal is to invest in science and technology that protects against catastrophic events -- making the Nation safer.

The S&T Directorate funds everything from basic research to customer delivery in some cases.  The overall process incorporates the views of scientists and engineers but is guided by investment principles and strategies.  These many aspects help to bring a more successful product out.

So What Kind of Money is Out There for Security Innovators?

  • Basic Research (> 8 years) $86 million was set aside for the basic research in the President's FY 2008 Budget Request for Homeland Security technologies.  
  • Product Transition (< 3 years) $343 million was earmarked for the transition of technology; basically technologies that are nearer to delivery.
  • Innovative Capabilities (2 to 5 years) This covers Homeland Innovative Prototypical Solutions (HIPS) - which are designed to deliver prototype-level demonstrations of game-changing technologies within two to five years and High Impact Technology Solutions (HITS) - which are designed to provide proof-of-concept solutions within one to three years that could result in high-payoff technology breakthroughs.  The goal is to leapfrog existing capabilities and to focus on high risk solutions.  The Director of HSARPA administers the $73 million innovation portfolio (includes the Small Business Innovation Research program) "to promote revolutionary changes in technologies with a focus on prototyping and deploying technologies critical to homeland security.

Becoming a part of this process can be invaluable as we've seen that stamps of approval for emerging technologies by knowledgeable and trusted judges can dramatically improve their chance of getting venture capital (VC) funding.

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