Defense TechConnect's six Innovation Challenges feature "Shark Tank"-style pitches by startups, universities and national labs competing for more than $500,000 in total prizes and access to more than $50 billion in prototype-level contracting authority for government customers.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Advanced Technology International (ATI), TechConnect and the Homeland Security Technology Consortium (HSTC) today announced the five winners of the 2022 Security Innovation Challenge. Selected from a field of 18 finalists, winners were presented a total $25,000 in cash prizes at the Defense TechConnect (DTC) Innovation Summit & Expo, the nation's largest annual gathering of non-traditional, dual-use emerging technologies aligned with government priority requirements.

Each winner presented its innovation during the conference's "Shark Tank"-style pitching; finalists were given eight minutes to present to industry and government leadership aligned with participating contracting vehicles.

The five winners and their innovations are:

• Allvision IO, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa.: An artificial intelligence (AI) for Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping innovation that uses roboting sensing, machine learning and AI to augment human inspection and auditing of physical infrastructure, enabling cost-effective preventative maintenance at an unprecedented scale.
• Cybermonic LLC, McLean, Va.: A novel graph intelligence system with graph-based machine learning and AI technology that models, analyzes and presents cyber relevant data to assist security analysts and democratize cybersecurity.
• Edge Technologies, Arlington, Va.: edgeCore, A unique solution, called edgeCore, that rapidly creates secure applications and deploys actionable situational awareness dashboards without the need for any new data warehouses or data lakes.
• Grabba Technologies, Tingalpa, Queensland, Australia: Grabba ID secures identity by integrating advanced technology for data capture and mobile biometrics, which allows users to verify their identity on a mobile device.
• IotAI, Inc., Fremont, Calif.: A modular software, AI and sensing set of capabilities, called Pico Threat Kits, that are wearable and mountable for threat detection and response by small UAS in austere and constrained environments.

DTC's Security Innovation Challenge is sponsored by HSTC, which supports the collaborative R&D and rapid prototyping/piloting needs for the Department of Homeland Security and its components. This year's challenge featured several areas of interest for innovations in identity management, including pattern recognition software, real-time analytics platforms, sensors, scanners, imaging, cybersecurity, data harmonization and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning. Administrators of the challenge encouraged applications from transformative innovators representing dual-use solutions for both civilian and national security applications.

DTC features six Innovation Challenges in energy and infrastructure, medical and biodefense, autonomy and air mobility, data and digital transformation, security and intelligence, and training and readiness. This year's six challenges attracted nearly 800 submissions competing for a total $500,000 in cash prizes and access to more than $50 billion in prototype-level contracting authority for government customers.

Held Sept. 27-29, 2022, at Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., DTC is the nation's largest annual gathering of non-traditional, dual-use emerging technologies aligned with government priority requirements. The winner of each Innovation Challenge, in addition to a cash prize, is invited to join a consortium led by DTC's parent company, ATI, the country's leading technology consortium management firm and one of the single largest funders of prototype-level innovations for its government customers and the nation.

About Defense TechConnect
The Defense TechConnect (DTC) Innovation Summit & Expo is the nation's largest annual gathering of non-traditional, dual-use emerging technologies aligned with government priority requirements. A unique bridge between private sector innovation, commercialization and government acquisition, DTC accelerates the identification and deployment of novel technologies through rapid access of vetted startups and emerging academic and federal lab innovations. In its 10th year accelerating innovation for the nation and America's Warfighter, DTC features 500 innovations and exhibitors and is one of the most well-attended defense innovation conferences of the year. DTC's attendees include military leadership, more than 250 DoD/SES/PEO scouts, representatives from over 50 contracting offices and hundreds of active duty service members. DTC is proud to be one of the original innovation hubs to support the Department of Defense and its missions. For more information, visit https://events.techconnect.org/DTCFall.

About TechConnect
With 25+ years of experience connecting emerging technologies with unique funding and partnership opportunities, TechConnect boasts the most robust research and innovation network in the world. It employs a broad scope of tools to deliver top technologies, including open innovation programs, conferences, and open-access publications. Each year, TechConnect prospects, vets, and connects thousands of emerging technologies with corporate, investment, municipal, and national defense clients. TechConnect is a division of Advanced Technology International. techconnect.org

About Advanced Technology International
ATI, a public-service nonprofit based in Summerville, S.C., builds and manages collaborations that conduct research and development of new technologies to solve our nation's most pressing challenges. Fueled by a community of experts from industry, academia, and government, ATI accelerates impact by using the power of collaboration to help the federal government quickly acquire novel technologies. ATI is a subsidiary of Analytic Services, Inc. (ANSER), a public-service research institute organized as a nonprofit corporation, which is dedicated to informing decisions that shape the nation's future. ATI.org

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