MSIT Buzz: April 2009

Friday, April 17, 2009

GSC Cyber Security Challenge 2009 - Now accepting applications

Cyber security has become the new frontier in the security and defence world.

Therefore, we seek the world's most creative innovators and start-ups to help responding to these mounting challenges in cyber security. We recognize that many disruptive innovations are not ready for mass commercialization and we encourage researchers and infant companies to apply for this year'sCyber Security Challenge. The judging for this award will focus mainly on the disruptive potential of the technology, focusing less on the idea's maturity.

BAE Systems are sponsoring the Cyber Security Challenge through their Investment in Innovation team:

"Cyber Security is a key area for us to further invest in both because of the wide range of issues currently faced and the breadth of work being done in the space. We seek to uncover the creative capabilities of innovators in universities and SMEs that apply to information assurance and cyber security needs."

Targeted Technologies: Examples of our areas of interest include data protection, user authentication, penetration testing, network protection, spam-prevention, anti-malware, identification of data theft, detection of dormant threats on corporate servers, tackling of identity theft on the internet and defences for virtualised computing resources.

The winners of this year's Cyber Security Challenge will receive:

£5,000 GBP cash award for the 1st place winner, sponsored by BAE Systems
£4,000 GBP cash award to be split among the two runner-ups, sponsored by BAE Systems
Mentorship by Nick Kingsbury (Venture Capitalist, former partner at 3i)

Who can Apply: Individuals & Companies

Deadline for Submissions: May 15, 2009

How to Apply: Enter by using our online submission system

The Global Security Challenge LLP (GSC) is a central hub for security innovators, start-ups and investors.  It is a valuable launching pad for security innovation and each year over $500,000 USD is awarded in its world leading competitions to start-ups, entrepreneurs and researchers within the security technology field.  The top contenders from previous competitions have subsequently raised over $52 million in new capital.

More: http://www.globalsecuritychallenge.com

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Solutions for Rural Communities and The Geo Tourism Challenge

Here are announcements of two opportunities to enter global online competitions and to be showcased to a network of like-minded community members, funders, CSOs, thought leaders, universities, governments, and enthusiasts!

Ashoka is a global non-profit network and support system for social entrepreneurs—people who devise innovative solutions to the social problems that plague society. To further this goal, Ashoka's Changemakers (www.changemakers.net) provides an online, interactive forum that encourages collaboration and discussion, along with theme-based competitions, to draw out the most effective ideas.

ENTER ONLINE GLOBAL COMPETITION: "The Geotourism Challenge: Power of Place."
Entry Deadline: May 20, 2009.
Prizes: Three top winners get $5,000 each.

Competition focus: In partnership with National Geographic Society, Ashoka's Changemakers is looking for examples of sustainable management of tourism, or geotourism, as it is widely known. NatGeo defines geotourism as ''tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place--its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.'' We're looking at people and organizations -- including the government, and corporations -- that are are initiating responsible innovations that use tourism to help sustain, enhance, or preserve local culture, build heritage, and natural habitats. For more details on the competition, please visit: http://www.changemakers.net/geotourismchallenge

ENTER ONLINE GLOBAL COMPETITION, "Cultivating Innovation: Solutions for Rural Communities"
Entry Deadline: May 13, 2009.

Prizes: a) Three top winners get $5,000 each; b) Early Bird Prize: If you enter by April 13, 2009, you could win a cell phone and digital camera (equal value of USD $1000); c) Nominator Prize: If you nominate people/organizations who could enter the competition, you stand to win a special prize!

Competition focus: In partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ashoka's Changemakers is looking for innovative solutions that span the entire agricultural value chain – from seeds to sales. Three-quarters of the world’s poorest people—the 1 billion who live on $1 a day or less—rely on agriculture to feed themselves and their families, yet many cannot grow enough to sell or even eat. If you've come up with strategies, tools and opportunites for small farmers to boost their productivity, increase their incomes, and build better lives for themselves and their families, enter now! For more details on the competition, please visit http://www.changemakers.com/en-us/agriculture

For more information or media queries, please contact Ms. Kalpana Kaul, Asia Director & Managing Editor, Ashoka's Changemakers. Tel. No. 033-2417-2587; 6535-8647 (Kolkata, India). Email:changemakers@vsnl.com; kkaul@ashoka.org