Global Security Challenge winner announced

15 Nov 08

TRX, a spin off from the University of Maryland in the USA, was one of six security startups chosen out of hundreds of entrants. The six all pitched their inventions at the final, hosted by the London Business School.

TRX Systems created an advanced personal 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.

The judging committee was comprised of leaders from government, venture capital and industry, including: Jeff David, deputy director of TSWG at the US Department of Defense; Stephen Bonner, group head of information risk management at Barclays; Mike Chalfen, general partner at Advent Venture Partners; Dr Alastair MacWillson, global managing partner of Global Security Practice at Accenture; and Jon Wills – director of security and resilience programmes at BAE Systems.

Launching pad
Jeff David said: “Disruptive technology is the key to staying ahead of international threats to our airports, enterprises and infrastructure. The Global Security Challenge is so important because it reaches the new, small, non-traditional players that so frequently drive innovations. We are proud to sponsor the award for the GSC winner because the GSC is an effective launching pad for security entrepreneurs."

Before coming to London, the six finalists had already made it through two rounds of judging, the last of which were regional competitions held in Washington DC, Singapore and Brussels.

The other finalists have developed technologies that can remotely protect sensitive data, detect concealed information in the human brain, enable real-time decision making, translate Arabic-language documents with “artificial intuition” and more accurately predict earthquakes.

Appetite for risk
Speaking at the awarding ceremony, John Reid, MP and former UK Home Secretary, said: “The healthiness of our appetite for risk is so important. Overcoming behavioural barriers is the virtue of leadership; enabling people to innovate and creating the confidence to embrace innovation as a continuous rather than an intermittent process. What I would ask of you – and advise – is that you always consider the capacity of organisations to make innovation happen.”

The Global Security Challenge was founded by MBA students at London Business School and is supported by Accenture, Booz Allen Hamilton, BAE Systems, ONR Global, PegasusBridge Fund Management, Smiths Detection, TSWG, Cap Vista and the US Department of Homeland Security, amongst others.

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