Competitions
The Global Security Challenge (GSC) runs several competitions over the course of a year and awards over US$500,000 in grants and prizes to innovative start-ups and ideas. The GSC is proud that its previous winners and finalists have raised over $59m so far, in new investments.
See below for an 'Overview of GSC Competitions in 2010' and 'Detailed Information about GSC Competitions'. To access the entry forms and to apply for a security competition, please join the free GSC Online Community.
For information regarding previous winners, please click here.
Detailed Information about GSC Competitions in 2010
Currently Open Competitions:
As cloud computing is rapidly picking up traction with businesses, its inherent security risks are becoming more apparent. Corporate customers struggle with the open questions of how to protect access to the cloud, regulatory compliance and data integrity.
Governments and large enterprises, from around the world, are especially attracted to the benefits of the cloud or are thinking about creating their own mini-clouds, but are hesitant because of security and privacy risks. Thus, the GSC and its partners are launching the first Cloud Security Challenge competition to explorer radically new ideas and game-changing solutions from around the world in order to make cloud computing more secure.
We are proud to announce that HP Labs sponsors this award with $10,000 for the winning idea.
Martin Sadler, Director of the Systems Security Lab in HP Labs:
"The Cloud Security Challenge not only allows us to find the much needed new security technologies that will be needed to minimise the risks in using the cloud – it also allows us to find new questions that we will need to find answers to."
The Cloud Security Alliance, SecurityVibes and CloudSecurity.org also support this competition as official partners. An executive from CapGemini will provide mentorship as a prize to the winner as well. The winner will also be showcased at our annual GSC Summit in London in front of 250 security professionals.
Deadline for Submissions: March 15, 2010 at 11.59pm GMT.
How to Apply: Enter by using the GSC online application form. You must be a member of the GSC Online Community to access the application form.
Upcoming Competitions:
1. Energy Storage Challenge - to be launched in 2010
Tackling Energy Innovation from a Defence Perspective - The global need is rising for replacing current fuel sources with greener technologies. However, in the short term, there is an important need to find groundbreaking ways to better use traditional sources of energy, as the use of fossil fuels increases in the near future.
This challenge impacts not only on military strategies but also national security in general, as our dependencies on oil and gas increase. The defence sector has traditionally been an early adopter of breakthrough technologies due to its unique needs and ability to explore emerging innovations, even if they are not cost-competitive yet.
Our inaugural challenge will focus on energy storage - a particular concern to defence departments around the world.
The award will be circa. $10,000, sponsored by the GSC and its partners.
We‘ve received amazing support for our upcoming "Energy Storage Challenge" already and are happy to disclose that we are working with leaders from the following institutions who support us in making this Challenge a reality:
- William Anderson, former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics
- Bart Markus, General Partner, Wellington Partners
- Michael Gaul, Head of Defence and Security Economics Directorate, NATO
- ...and other leaders from US Department of Energy, Sandia Labs, ETF and ONR.
Closed Competitions for 2009:
1. Global Security Challenge Competition 2009: Most Promising Security Idea
This category has now closed for 2009.
We recognize that there are many potentially disruptive innovations that have yet to reach commercialization. Through the Most Promising Security Idea category, the GSC encourages innovators to continue to pursue their ideas and efforts. The award is designed to support and promote researchers, infant companies (with no revenue), and any other inventors who just have an idea for a security solution.
The winners of this category will receive:
- $10,000 cash grant, sponsored by Accenture.
- Mentorship from Mark Shaheen, managing director of Civitas Group.
- Unparalleled networking opportunity with government officials and industry leaders.
- Invaluable publicity.
The awarding ceremony for the Most Promising Security Idea will take place at the Security Summit of the Global Security Challenge held at London Business School on November 13, 2009. Please note: applicants to the idea category will not be expected to attend the regional finals to present their innovation. All judging for this category is based on the online submission you provided.
To find out information about Homergent, the 2008 winners of our Most Promising Security Idea category, click here.
Targeted Technologies: We seek to uncover the creative capabilities of innovators in universities and infant companies that apply to public security needs. This includes software or hardware solutions that help (a) protect people, critical infrastructure, facilities and data/electronic systems against terrorist or other criminal attacks and natural disasters or (b) help governments, businesses and communities defend against, cope with or recover from such incidents.
Examples of our areas of interest are (but are not limited to): biometrics, detection sensors, cyber security, video surveillance, RFID, personnel protection, encryption software, data-mining, biotechnologies, and explosive trace detection.
Who can Apply?: Eligible entrants must be a company, or one or more individuals, whose idea did not generate revenue in 2008.
2. Global Security Challenge Competition 2009: Best Security SME Category
This category has now closed for 2009.
Young security companies face singular challenges in their drive to succeed in the complex security technology industry. Through the Best Security SME category, the GSC seeks to provide innovative companies with additional support to be put towards development and commercialization.
The winners of this category will receive:
- Up to $400,000 cash grant to be used to further develop their SME, provided by TSWG of the US Government.
- Mentorship from Chris Winter, New Venture Partners.
- Unparalleled networking opportunity with government officials and industry leaders.
- Invaluable publicity.
Targeted Technologies: We seek to uncover the creative capabilities of innovators in universities and infant companies that apply to public security needs. This includes software or hardware solutions that help (a) protect people, critical infrastructure, facilities and data/electronic systems against terrorist or other criminal attacks and natural disasters or (b) help governments, businesses and communities defend against, cope with or recover from such incidents.
Who can Apply?: For the Best Security SME category the term 'SME' refers to a company with sales revenue between £1 million and £10 million (approx. $1.5 million and $15 million). The sales revenue should refer to the previous financial year.
3. Global Security Challenge Competition 2009: Most Promising Security Start-Up Category
1. Global Security Challenge Competition 2009: Most Promising Security Idea Category
This category has now closed for 2009.
Young security companies face singular challenges in their drive to succeed in the complex security technology industry. Through the Most Promising Security Start-Up category, the GSC seeks to provide innovative companies with additional support to be put towards development and commercialization.
The winners of this category will receive:
- $100,000 cash grant to be used to further develop their start-up, provided by TSWG of the US Government.
- Mentorship from Mike Chalfen, Advent Venture Partners.
- Unparalleled networking opportunity with government officials and industry leaders.
- Invaluable publicity.
Targeted Technologies: We seek to uncover the creative capabilities of innovators in universities and infant companies that apply to public security needs. This includes software or hardware solutions that help (a) protect people, critical infrastructure, facilities and data/electronic systems against terrorist or other criminal attacks and natural disasters or (b) help governments, businesses and communities defend against, cope with or recover from such incidents.
Who can Apply?: For the Most Promising Security Start-Up category the term 'start-up' refers to a company with sales revenue between £1 and £1 million (approx. $1.50 and $1.5 million). The sales revenue should refer to the previous financial year.
4. Cyber Security Challenge 2009
This competition has now closed for 2009.
Cyber security has become the new frontier in the security and defence world.
Therefore, we seek the world's most creative innovators and start-ups to help responding to these mounting challenges in cyber security. We recognize that many disruptive innovations are not ready for mass commercialization and we encourage researchers and infant companies to apply for this year's Cyber Security Challenge. The judging for this award will focus mainly on the disruptive potential of the technology, focusing less on the idea's maturity.
BAE Systems is sponsoring the Cyber Security Challenge through its Investment in Innovation team:
"Cyber Security is a key area for us to further invest in both because of the wide range of issues currently faced and the breadth of work being done in the space. We seek to uncover the creative capabilities of innovators in universities and SMEs that apply to information assurance and cyber security needs."
Targeted Technologies: data protection, user authentication, penetration testing, network protection, spam-prevention, anti-malware, identification of data theft, detection of dormant threats on corporate servers, tackling of identity theft on the internet and defences for virtualised computing resources. The winners of this year's Cyber Security Challenge will receive:
- £5,000 GBP cash award for the 1st place winner, sponsored by BAE Systems
- £4,000 GBP cash award to be split among the two runner-ups, sponsored by BAE Systems
- Mentorship by Nick Kingsbury (Venture Capitalist, former partner at 3i)
Who can Apply?: Individuals and companies with under £5m (approx. $7.5m) in 2008 sales revenue.
[Update August 2009: the winner of the inaugural Cyber Security Challenge is Ksplice from MA, USA]
5. Crowded Places Challenge 2009
This competition has now closed for 2009.
The 2nd annual Crowded Places Challenge aims to bring fresh thinking to the problem of protecting the general public from the threat of terrorism in crowded urban environments. At present, governments and industry are looking for more effective ways to respond to the huge challenges posed by securing crowded places.
To improve the ability to understand and model crowd behaviour, the Global Security Challenge, together with BAE Systems and the UK’s INSTINCT programme, have launched the Crowded Places Challenge to uncover the creative capabilities of innovators that may help in countering terrorism.
Examples of our areas of interest for understanding and modelling crowd behaviour include, but are not limited to: software models, video analytics, behavioural analysis and cultural research.
The winners of the 2nd international Crowded Places Challenge receive the following prizes and awards:
- £10,000 GBP cash award for 1st Place
- Mentorship by Matt McCooe, Managing Director of Chart Venture Partners
- Up to 5 of the most promising submissions may be invited to test their technology in the INSTINCT Technology Demonstrator in November 2009
The winners of the competition will be awarded at a ceremony in London in November 2009.
Who Should Apply
Entrants must have an innovative idea to apply. You do not need products, prototypes, business plans or fully-formed companies to be eligible. Venture can have not more than £5 million GBP in annual revenues in 2008 (= total annual sales from last year).
Entrants may be firms/companies, universities or individual innovators (i.e. not connected to a company or institution) from around the world, but the invention must be easy to deploy in the UK in the near future.
Click here to read the terms and conditions for entering.
Judging
Judging will take place in November 2009. The judging for this award will focus mainly on the disruptive potential of the technology, focusing less on its maturity. The judging committee consists of leaders from industry, government and venture capital. All qualified applicants will receive feedback on their submissions.
[Update January 2010: the winner of the annual Crowded Places Challenge is iOmniscient, Australia.]
Crowded-Places Challenge 2009
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