HSIEC awards grants to three innovative Illinois companies

Published 29 June 2006

Northwestern University’s center for homeland security entrepreneurship awards three grants to innovative Chicago-area companies

The Homeland Security Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Northwestern University (HSIEC) has awarded Challenge Grants to three Illinois companies — Amitex of Chicago, Cognitor of Chicago, and Independent Forensics of Illinois, of Hillside, Illinois. The funding brings the number of grants awarded by the Homeland Security Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center to eight since its formation in October 2005.

—Amitex designs and improves high-end video transmission and surveillance systems for defense, homeland security, law enforcement, and industry. The company’s technology removes distortion, glare, and shadows from low-light video images, doubles the transmission range for wireless streaming video, and decreases the bandwidth requirements for transmitted data.

—Cognitor provides analytics software and services to aid real-time decision-making based on trending, analysis, and learning. Its Transportation Security Solution (TSS) application makes it possible for decision makers to determine whether incidents that occur on transit systems and property are the result of device failures, power outages, criminal activity, or terrorist attacks.

—Independent Forensics of Illinois, LLC develops genetic identification products for law enforcement analysis, DNA Paternity Testing, and ChildID Kits.

Illinois Entrepreneurship Network Challenge Grants provide matching funds to help high-growth small businesses achieve critical business milestones. Companies supported by the HSIEC also receive important business services including management assistance and coaching, product development and technology commercialization advice, market intelligence and access to angel and venture capital.