Winner 'Best Security SME' 2009: Kromek

Dr. John Morgan from TSWG, US Dept. of Defense  (left). Dr. Arnab Basu, CEO of Kromek (centre) and Prof. Max Robinson (right).

The winner of the 'Best Security SME' category of the Global Security Challenge 2009 is Kromek (UK).

Kromek has developed a product family that ranges from systems which can non-invasively identify liquids in containers of any type, right through to advanced technology explosive detection systems.  The two technologies highlighted at the Global Security Challenge were a threat liquid identification system (bottle scanner) which can deal with individual containers and a unit for screening multiple containers in a 311 bag configuration, or indeed other small objects. 

Arnab Basu, CEO of Kromek, said: “It’s an amazing achievement to be named as Best Security SME at this year’s GSC awards. The award represents an important validation for Kromek’s technology and a valuable boost to our funding, which will help to develop our range of security products. Winning this category reflects the extent to which the company is pushing technological boundaries and setting a pace for the industry worldwide.”

Kromek won a cash grant of up to US$400,000, provided by TSWG, US Department of Defense, plus mentorship from Chris Winter, a Partner at New Venture Partners.

Winner 'Most Promising Security Start-up' 2009: Adaptive Imaging Technologies

The winner of the 'Most Promising Security Start-up' category of the Global Security Challenge 2009 is Adaptive Imaging Technologies (Israel).

Adaptive Imaging Technologies has developed a new digital video technology for persistent surveillance. The Adaptive technology provides breakthrough improvement in both cost and performance.  The core benefit is that a single device provides the same functionality as a large number of conventional wide-angle and telescopic cameras. In other words, systems that require numerous high-end cameras today are able to use a single Adaptive camera instead.

Gideon Miller, the CEO at Adaptive Imaging Technologies commented: "We were delighted to find that the GSC works very much like Adaptive's "panoramic telescope" camera: your contest covers a very broad field of view, yet you manage to zoom on the right target and scrutinize it with extreme resolution!  We sweated under your spot light, but we are extremely proud and much moved by the result.  I must say that the day itself was tremendous - we benefited enormously from the feedback we received and the contacts that we made at the event.". 

Adaptive Imaging Technologies won a US$100,000 cash grant, provided by TSWG, US Department of Defense, plus mentorship from Mike Chalfen, General Partner at Advent Venture Partners.

Winner 'Most Promising Security Start-up' 2008: TRX Systems

The winner of our 2008 Startup competition is 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.

TRX Systems' COO Karina Drees commented: "Winning the Global Security Challenge is a tremendous accomplishment for TRX Systems. It provides enormous recognition and a great boost to the development of the company and its products."

Since winning the GSC Startup Competition in 2008, TRX Systems has received a $200,000 grant by the University of Maryland in February 2009. 

TRX Systems have also raised $1.8 million in angel funding, in November 2009.

Winner 'Most Promising Security Start-up' 2007: NoblePeak Vision 

Winner 'Most Promising Security Start-up' 2006: Ingenia Technology 

Ingenia Technology is a UK startup that developed a novel laser technology to authenticate documents and products.

Winner 'Cyber Security Challenge' 2009: Ksplice

The winner of the 'Cyber Security Challenge' is Ksplice (Massachusetts, USA).

Ksplice is an enterprise software company that makes systems more secure, reliable, and maintainable through seamless updates.  Organizations use Ksplice Uptrack, Ksplice’s first product, to keep their Linux systems up to date and secure without the disruption and downtime of rebooting.

Waseem Daher, Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Ksplice said in a statement:

"We are honoured at the enthusiastic response to our product for making systems more secure and easier to maintain through seamless updates.  Ksplice solves a major security problem by making it possible to apply updates to running software without restarting it.  We thank the Global Security Challenge for creating valuable opportunities for promising security companies, and we thank BAE Systems for sponsoring the Cyber Security Challenge."

Ksplice won GBP£5,000, sponsored by BAE Systems, plus mentorship from Nick Kingsbury, an entrepreneur turned Venture Capitalist.

Runners-up 'Cyber Security Challenge' 2009

SCIT Labs, Inc (Virginia, USA) - a new approach to security intrusion tolerance, by shifting the focus from intrusion avoidance to containing the losses.

ExactTrak (UK) - the Security Guardian product addresses the rapidly growing problem of mobile data security via the integration of encryption, GPS, GSM and RF technology into an 8GB USB memory stick.

The runners-up receive GBP£2,000 each, sponsored by BAE Systems.  

Winner 'Most Promising Security Idea' 2009: Remedium Technologies

The winner of the 'Most Promising Security Idea' category of the Global Security Challenge 2009 is Remedium Technologies (Maryland, USA).

Remedium Technologies, Inc. is dedicated to the development of advanced hemostatic and tissue sealant materials. The principals are currently developing a high-pressure sprayable foam hemostat which is able to expand into an injured body cavity, adhering to tissue and stopping hemorrhage rapidly during the expansion process.

This technology offers a unique and low-cost solution to effectively stop bleeding from non-compressible hemorrhage injuries, which account for 90% of all deaths related to bleeding.

Currently, the product is being tested in pre-clinical trials and the company hopes to receive FDA approval by mid-2013. This hemostat addresses a growing $1B market within the US, and will be marketed to the US Department of Defense, US Department of Homeland Security, Emergency Medical Services, Shock/Trauma Centers, as well as state and local law enforcement.

Matthew Dowling, the CEO at Remedium Technologies, said regarding the award:

"The GSC Security Summit 2009 was an outstanding event and an invaluable opportunity for Remedium Technologies. We are truly honored to have won the Most Promising Security Idea Category and all the more determined to turn our idea into a commercial reality as quickly as possible. We'd like to thank Dr. Alastair MacWilson and Accenture for sponsoring the award, as well as the judging committee for selecting us. We truly believe that our sprayable hemostatic foam will have an enormous impact on global security and will save many lives in the future."

Remedium Technologies won US$10,000, sponsored by Accenture, plus mentorship from Mark Shaheen, Managing Director, at Civitas Group.

Winner 'Most Promising Security Idea' 2008: HOMErgent

The winner of the 'Most Promising Security Idea' category of the Global Security Challenge 2008 was HOMErgent (Nevada, USA).

HOMErgent is commercialising a breakthrough technology, product line, and business model for delivering high-quality shelters to mass disaster victims, refugees, and the poor in a sustainable manner.

Commenting on the award win, Justin Power, Director of Homergent said:

“Winning the "Most Promsing Security Idea Award 2008" brings important credibility to Homergent’s mission, which is alleviating many of humanity's great problems by providing the desperate with low-cost sustainable shelter modules that harvest energy and feel like Home. The government, industry, and financial opportunities this award is opening for us will be invaluable as we endeavour to scale rapidly from successful breadboards to global supply chain.”

Winner 'Crowded Places Challenge' 2009: iOmniscient

The winner of the Crowded Places Challenge 2009 is iOmniscient (Australia).

iOmniscient has developed a range of Detection and Identification systems that can operate simultaneously on the same camera.  iOmniscient systems enable complex detection in crowded scenes despite heavy motion and obscuration.  Its innovation can detect an abandoned bag in a crowded airport when it has been obscured by hundreds of passersby and can identify people in a crowded uncontrolled environment with variable lighting.

Commenting on winning the award, Dr Rustom Kanga, Chief Executive Officer of iOmniscient said: “We are delighted to have been announced as the winner of the Crowded Places Challenge. There are many video analysis systems that work in empty scenes but security threats have moved from empty perimeters to crowded lobbies of airlines, railways and shopping malls, but we have focused our energies on developing technologies such as object detection and facial recognition for crowded scenes.  We are very pleased to have been acknowledged by this very generous award.”

iOmniscient won US$10,000, sponsored by BAE Systems, plus mentorship from Matt McCooe, Founding Managing Partner at Chart Venture Partners.

Winner Crowded Places Challenge 2008: Crowd Vision

Crowd-Vision receiving their award at the GSC Security Summit 2008

The winner of the Crowded Places Challenge 2008 was Crowd-Vision from the ETH in Zurich.

Crowd-Vision is a software product that automatically detects and tracks pedestrians while they move under CCTV cameras.