Developing Technologies for the Homeland Security Market Forum Comes to Champaign-Urbana

CHAMPAIGN-URBANA – Building on his State of the State commitment to create jobs and economic growth by making Illinois a center for innovation and product development in the homeland security industry, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns program held the second in a series of free forums to help businesses throughout the state identify homeland security market opportunities.  “Developing Technologies for the Homeland Security Market” was held today at the Coordinated Science Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  The conference was presented by the Homeland Security Market Development Bureau within the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) in partnership with the Information Trust Institute (ITI) and the American Electronics Association (AeA). 

“We are committed to developing Illinois’ homeland security sector by supporting companies that want to tap into emerging markets in the field of information technology.  The security and reliability of the electronic networks and communication tools we use each day is critical,” Gov. Blagojevich said.  “Developing technologies that have the capacity to provide our businesses, governments and citizens with the security and peace of mind needed to pursue new levels of growth and productivity, as well as the innovation needed to remain competitive in the global marketplace, is essential to promoting a healthy and vibrant economy."

National experts and leading firms in information technology, electronics and communications equipment provided the most current information about the homeland security market in specific fields of interest and offered direction on meeting the industry’s current and future needs.  Attendees learned how to take advantage of emerging markets for cyber security, interoperable communications, intelligence analysis and command and control software.  Highlights included strategy sessions with successful companies and finance professionals, who advised attendees on how to break into this growing industry and showed businesses how they stand to benefit from putting innovative Illinois companies and market forces to work for them.

Featured speakers included General Pat Hughes, Corporate Vice President for Homeland Security for L-3 Communications and former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and a national authority in the areas of information analysis and infrastructure protection; William Sanders, Director of ITI; Brian Flood, Vice President of FSI; Scott Hammond, Director of Sales, Federal Government, Civilian Agencies, Research & Education of Ciena Government Solutions, Inc.; Thomas Reedy, Chief Executive Officer of iTRACS Corporation; and Stephen Beitler, founder of Dunrath Capital.

“Gov. Blagojevich’s commitment to growing the homeland security industry here in Central Illinois and throughout the state will pay tremendous economic dividends, as well as making our state and country more secure.  By bringing the public and the private sectors together at these kinds of unique forums, we are laying a solid foundation for continued growth in this emerging industry,” State Representative Naomi Jakobsson (D-Champaign) said.

“Gov. Blagojevich is delivering on his promise to keep our state at the forefront of the industry and bring the national focus on homeland security to Illinois by arranging this impressive series of homeland security forums, which provide an important venue and great resource for businesses,” Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Director Jack Lavin said.  “Developing Technologies for the Homeland Security Market” will help forge new public-private partnerships and strengthen existing relationships between the two sectors to stimulate business growth and lead to new innovations, investments and jobs that will strengthen Illinois’ economy."
 
Technology specialists from conference co-sponsors iTRACS Corporation and Ciena Government Solutions, Inc. shared their leading private sector firms’ experiences in setting the standards of information technology related to domestic security, as well as discussed the need for further development and methods of improvement.  Speakers from the public sector also shared their experiences, including Shabbir Shamsuddin from Argonne National Laboratory; Aaron Kusterman, Senior Intelligence Advisor, State of Illinois Terrorism and Intelligence Center; and Terry Scott, Special Agent in Charge, FBI-Champaign.

“The goal of this conference is to further develop, promote and expand the market for electronics and information technology in homeland security,” said Ed Longanecker, Executive Director of the AeA Midwest Council.  “By doing this, Illinois is well positioned to lead in the development of new technologies for homeland security that can be quickly transferred into products, services and jobs."

DCEO’s Homeland Security Market Development Bureau (HSMD) is focused on supporting businesses engaged in the homeland security industry.  HSMD offers a variety of investment tools designed to help existing Illinois companies expand operations and utilize available state and federal programs and services.  For more information on HSMD, visit www.hsmd.illinois.gov.

In June, Gov. Blagojevich announced a $500,000 investment in the Information Trust Institute, a new technology initiative to address the security, reliability and survivability of our vital information systems and develop fundamental solutions to security challenges.

The American Electronics Association is the nation’s largest high-tech trade association, providing access to capital, business opportunities, select services and networking programs to more than 2,500 corporate members.

Gov. Blagojevich's Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois' history. Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn't work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions - each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges.  Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses. It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs.  Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.