Northwestern University to Host Midwest Event of Global Security Challenge

EVANSTON, IL--(Marketwire - June 3, 2009) - Northwestern University, along with the Homeland Security Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, will host the Midwest regional event of the Global Security Challenge (GSC), the world's largest international security innovation competition. The competition offers researchers, entrepreneurs and start-ups the opportunity to showcase their security inventions and compete for more than $500,000 in cash grants.

The regional event for Midwest entrants will be held September 22, 2009 at the Feinberg School of Medicine on Northwestern's Chicago campus. The deadline for Midwest regional entries is June 15. Awards are offered in a number of different categories, and all Global Security Challenge entrants will receive feedback on their submission.

"Northwestern University has a long history of creating and supporting successful start-up companies," said Bret Johnson, Director of the Homeland Security Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at the University. "And we believe hosting the regional Global Security Challenge competition is an excellent contribution to the economic development of the state and region."

The competition began in 2005 as the brainchild of two London Business School students. Since that time the GSC has partnered with leading research universities around the world to host the competition.

The founders of the GSC, Simon Schneider and Janeen Chupa, commented in a joint statement about the event, "We are proud that our top contenders from previous competitions have subsequently raised over $52 million in fresh capital."

Underwriter's Laboratories, a multinational company known for product safety certification and compliance solutions, is a local sponsor for the Midwest regional event. In addition to sponsorship, during the event Underwriter's Laboratories will hold a panel discussion on mass notification.

The Global Security Challenge Grand Final will take place in London this November and is hosted by the London Business School.

For more information about the competition please visit the Global Security Challenge website: http://www.globalsecuritychallenge.com/gsc_competitions.php.

About Northwestern University - Regional Host Institution

Founded in 1851, Northwestern University is one of the country's leading private research universities, with an annual budget of $1.5 billion and sponsored research in excess of $439 million. Located on two lakeshore campuses -- one in Chicago and one in Evanston, the first suburb north of Chicago -- Northwestern enrolls about 17,000 students and has some 2,500 full-time faculty.

The University has a long history of leadership in interdisciplinary research programs and centers. More than 90 school-based centers and 20 University centers support interdisciplinary research that spans a wide spectrum of areas, including neuroscience, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and drug discovery.

About HSIEC - Regional Host Institution

HSIEC delivers specialized business development assistance in homeland security as part of the Illinois Entrepreneurship Network through a joint effort between Northwestern University and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The Center launched in October 2005. For more information visit http://www.hsiec.org.

About Underwriters Laboratories - Regional Event Sponsor

Underwriters Laboratories® is an independent product safety certification organization that has been testing products and writing standards for safety for more than a century. UL evaluates more than 19,000 types of products, components, materials and systems annually with 21 billion UL Marks appearing on 72,000 manufacturers' products each year. UL's worldwide family of companies and network of service providers includes 62 laboratory, testing and certification facilities serving customers in 99 countries.

About the Global Security Challenge Competition - Event Founder

Global Security Challenge LLP (GSC) is a central hub for security innovators, startups and investors. GSC runs the leading international business plan competition to find and select the most promising security technology startups in the world. It was established in 2006 by London Business School students to empower entrepreneurs in the homeland security technology space. The mission of the GSC is to stimulate technological innovations that make airports, cities and enterprises safer without encroaching on civil liberties. The GSC is supported by Accenture, BAE Systems, ONR Global, PegasusBridge Fund Management, Smiths Detection, TSWG, and the US Department of Homeland Security, amongst others. For any further questions regarding the GSC or its events please email: advice@globalsecuritychallenge.com.

Contact Information: For further information, please contact: For HSIEC Bronwen Murray (847) 467-0151 bronwen@northwestern.edu Linda Muskin (847) 432-7300 lmuskin@teamclarus.com For Northwestern University Megan Fellman (847) 491-3115 fellman@northwestern.edu