The Department of Homeland Security wants to commercialize technologies developed in federal laboratories to expand the selection of companies and applications in its industrial base, especially in areas like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
In an attempt to get out in front of the commercial marketplace, DHS Science and Technology Directorate is overseeing a new series of competitions between startup teams. Last week marked the end of the inaugural “Homeland Security Startup Studio.”
The program, which began in January, saw 10 teams form to develop start-up companies pitching technologies with a homeland security bent. DHS started out by scouting more than 450 technologies from federal labs and university partners before narrowing it down to 10 technologies that formed the basis for the competing teams’ pitches. During the culminating “Converge” event last week, five finalist teams competed for two $1,500 prizes.
Kathryn Coulter Mitchell, the senior official performing the duties of the under secretary for science and technology, said the initiative is helping DHS “drive innovation and influence the marketplace for DHS-relevant technologies.”
“The benefits of moving research from the lab to the front lines are tangible and will help the department bridge the gap between the research environment and the rapid innovation cycles of the marketplace,” Mitchell said during a keynote address at the event. “This partnership will enable researchers to identify new delivery pathways for their technologies. It will also help the department expand its industrial base, which is essential for protecting our way of life.”
DHS’ efforts to wade into the commercial startup market are part of a larger trend across government where agencies are trying to work more closely with technology startups funded by venture capital in places like Silicon Valley.
“We realize more public-private collaboration is needed to carry out DHS missions, an ..
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