Global Security Challenge LLP

Global Security Challenge (GSC) is an annual security ideas and start-up competition which offers security entrepreneurs worldwide the opportunity to showcase their inventions and ideas and compete for over $500,000 in cash-grants sponsored by the US Government.

The competition, which is in its third year, aims to identify, explore and foster innovation in the field of homeland security. It was established in 2006 by London Business School students to empower start-ups in the homeland security technology space. The goal is to support the development of innovative technologies and ensure their success.

The winners of the first two GSC competitions, Ingenia Technology and NoblePeak Vision, received considerable funding after winning the award.

Secure Futures is working closely with GSC to identify a wide range of innovative researchers, projects and early-stage companies which are pushing the boundaries of new technology and have promising application in protecting national interests.

In particular, Secure Futures and GSC are collaborating to identify practical technologies and techniques for use in protecting crowds and public spaces, as part of the Crowded Places initiative. The flagship event of this initiative is an open call for ideas and innovation, through the Crowded Places Ideas Award.

Inventors and Innovators

We have built – and continue to develop – a wide set of relationships with the academic and enterprise support infrastructure in the UK, including universities, research laboratories, regional development agencies and other national and regional bodies that support innovation and entrepreneurs. These relationships provide us with access to 1000’s of small companies – start-ups and spin-outs – as well as the UK’s best research teams.

Investors

We have built – and continue to develop – an extensive network of investors who have a track record of investing in relevant technologies or who are potentially interested in investing in the national security sector. These include: UK-based or overseas seed or early-stage investors who invest in the UK and investors who have a particular focus on national security investing (several with a Homeland Security Fund) or a specialism in a relevant technology domain e.g. information and communications technology.

In addition we work closely with business intelligence and media organisations whose core business is to supply investors with pipeline and deal information.

Government and Industry

We have a well-established set of relationships with the key government departments and agencies concerned with national security and with their main industrial suppliers and partners.