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3 ways digital transformation makes governments more responsive

NGOZI NWOKO | April 14, 2021 | 77 views

COVID-19 placed enormous demands on government services—demands that are not likely to go away. Moreover, the private sector now looks to government to facilitate the data transparency, digital processes, and data security needed to fuel recovery. Governments now understand those old ways of doing business no longer work. They need to become agile and flexible to meet today’s needs. Some were moved in that direction by the unexpected demands of the pandemic. For others, COVID-19 simply accelerated their digital transformation journey that was already underway.

Spotlight

City of Roanoke, TX

Dine, Shop and Play in Roanoke- The Unique Dining Capital of Texas! Roanoke offers a unique quality of life, with a rich heritage dating back to the 1840’s. Tucked away in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Roanoke offers a friendly, small town charm with all the amenities of a big city. Roanoke’s excellent location provides access to major metropolitan amenities including airports, interstate highways, rail services, dining, shopping and entertainment.

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

Revitalization of Economies: Government Supporting Start-ups

Article | July 11, 2022

The pandemic has blown up entrepreneurs and start-up ecosystems, so government support for start-ups has become critical. The majority of them faced cash shortages and a lack of venture capital. For start-ups, cash is the most pressing issue. Furthermore, start-ups experienced a slow fundraising process accompanied by investor indifference. Furthermore, the global workforce was not left untouched by the spillover. Start-ups began to lay off employees and reduce pay. According to StartupGenome research, three out of every four employees were letting their employer down. While 39% of them laid off 20% or more of their workforce, two-thirds admitted to laying off 60% or more of their full-time employees. In the United States, the economy experienced the sharpest decline in employment, with 20.5 million people losing their jobs. Following that, in order to address this and reduce the pandemic's impact on start-ups, the governments of many countries have stepped in to save their country's start-up ecosystem. We've listed a few of the government's initiatives to help start-ups during the current cash crunch. Direct grants and zero-interest loans: Right now, cash is the most important concern for new businesses. Grants are regarded as the most beneficial policy instrument (29%), followed by loans (12%). Access to venture capital investment: If history is any guide, venture capital activity will likely decline in 2020 as well. This creates a quandary for the 18% of start-ups that require access to financing tools to increase investment. Employment support schemes: COVID-19 has had an impact on workforces all over the world. The US lost a record 20.5 million jobs in April, the fastest and sharpest drop since the government began tracking the data. Given these circumstances, it's no surprise that 17 percent of start-ups rank immediate employee protection as one of their top priorities.

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Government as a driving force

Article | May 26, 2021

The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the importance of constant innovation—as well as the need to respond quickly, agilely, and on a large scale. During the early stages of the pandemic, governments increased mask production, facilitated data sharing among pharmaceutical companies, relaxed regulatory requirements for certain tests and drugs, and accelerated vaccine production. These were the critical first steps in what turned out to be a highly successful collaboration with the private sector, non-profit organizations, and research institutions. Governments have served as catalysts throughout the pandemic, assembling and enabling multi-sector efforts to deal with the flood of cases and develop vaccines. Even before the pandemic, the government's role as a solution catalyst was expanding in scope and complexity, with a focus on how to harness innovation across sectors for public benefit. Governments have gone beyond repairing market failures as commercial and cross-sector innovation has accelerated. Governments are fostering cross-sector solutions for a variety of societal challenges, including public health, climate change, and cybersecurity, in addition to assisting in the strengthening of strategic sectors such as defence and space. Utilizing outside innovation to drive mission delivery Many technologies have been developed by the commercial sectorthat can be used to address complex societal problems. Governments are looking into ways to use these capabilities to improve mission delivery in ways other than contracting, in order to develop a broader set of partners and solutions. It is not always easy to implement such technologies in the public sector. Governments, unlike commercial entities with access to legal and financial structures such as joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions, must find more creative ways to capitalize on external innovation based on mutual interest and advantage across sectors. Government action and innovation State and local government leaders face shrinking resources, demanding constituents, complex policy environments, and constant pressure to deliver results on time.

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U.S. Engagement with WHO

Article | May 27, 2021

During the pandemic, the United States supported the WHO through collaborative operations. Let’s understand in detail below. The United States government has historically supported WHO financially, through involvement in governance and diplomacy, and through collaborative operations. A new chapter in the U.S. relationship with WHO began in 2020, following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Trump administration ceased financial support and started the process to withdraw the country from membership. Financial Support: The United States has traditionally been the single largest donor to WHO, but in the 2020–2021 period it was the second largest as other donors, particularly Germany, increased their contributions. The U.S. dropped to third place. The United States contributed an anticipated $581 million to the WHO in 2021 as a result of restored funding from the Biden administration, which included both assessed and voluntary contributions. The assessed contribution for the United States has been set at the maximum permitted rate of 22% of all assessed payments from member states for a number of years. The U.S. assessed contribution has been very consistent between FY 2014 and FY 2022, varying between $110 million and $123 million. Increased U.S. support for particular WHO initiatives, such as emergency response, may be reflected in higher levels of voluntary contributions. Other WHO initiatives supported by U.S. voluntary donations include the fight against polio, maternal, infant, and child health initiatives, food safety initiatives, and regulatory monitoring of pharmaceuticals. Governance Activities: The United States has long been a prominent and involved member of the World Health Assembly, sending a sizable delegation that is typically headed by a delegate from the Department of Health and Human Services and includes representatives from numerous other U.S. agencies and departments. Technical Support: Government officials from the United States frequently act as liaisons at WHO regional offices and headquarters, collaborating daily with employees on technical initiatives. Partnering Activities: The United States has collaborated with WHO both before and during epidemic responses and other global health emergencies, notably by joining multinational teams that WHO organises to look into and address outbreaks all around the world. For instance, the US collaborated with WHO and the larger global response to the 2014-onset Ebola epidemic in West Africa, and US scientists were a part of the WHO mission that visited China in February 2020 to evaluate their COVID-19 response.

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

Tech Trends that Affect Governments in 2022

Article | July 11, 2022

Governments and public authorities, like any other part of society, are vulnerable to technological disruption. Many of the issues confronting the government today stem from the fight to combat the global COVID-19 pandemic. Government institutions frequently discover that by employing tactics and strategies similar to those used by industry and the private sector, they, too, could learn to be more flexible and agile in their response. As a result, they have experienced a faster rate of digital transformation. Artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), and digital twins are now firmly on the agenda of governments and public bodies, whereas they were previously only on the roadmap. Many governments, particularly in more developed countries, have realized that they simply cannot afford to be complacent when there is so much potential for positive change. So, with that in mind, here's a rundown of some of the most significant tech trends affecting governments in 2022. Digital Identity: Biometric measures, can be used in identity schemes to link an individual as a physical entity to their digital identity. AI and Automation of Public Services: In the United States, federal, state, and local governments are all ramping up experiments with natural language processing (NLP) technologies to reduce customer friction. Cyber Security: Close monitoring of cyber security is a high priority for states. In 2021, the US government announced that it would assist businesses in defending themselves against nation-state attacks. National Cryptocurrencies: The benefits of cryptocurrency as a monetary system are clearly compelling enough to pique the interest of governments and central banks, but there are questions that must be addressed, particularly those concerning environmental costs and energy consumption, which may have political ramifications. The Rise of Govtech Start-ups: The field is now open for a new breed of start-up known as "govtechs" to bring fresh thinking to the challenge of driving the digital revolution in government. For example, in the United States, federal, state, and local governments are popular with services that received a high volume of calls during the pandemic. The above discussed trends are the five biggest tech trends transforming government in 2022.

Read More
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

Tech Trends that Affect Governments in 2022

Article | July 11, 2022

The pandemic has blown up entrepreneurs and start-up ecosystems, so government support for start-ups has become critical. The majority of them faced cash shortages and a lack of venture capital. For start-ups, cash is the most pressing issue. Furthermore, start-ups experienced a slow fundraising process accompanied by investor indifference. Furthermore, the global workforce was not left untouched by the spillover. Start-ups began to lay off employees and reduce pay. According to StartupGenome research, three out of every four employees were letting their employer down. While 39% of them laid off 20% or more of their workforce, two-thirds admitted to laying off 60% or more of their full-time employees. In the United States, the economy experienced the sharpest decline in employment, with 20.5 million people losing their jobs. Following that, in order to address this and reduce the pandemic's impact on start-ups, the governments of many countries have stepped in to save their country's start-up ecosystem. We've listed a few of the government's initiatives to help start-ups during the current cash crunch. Direct grants and zero-interest loans: Right now, cash is the most important concern for new businesses. Grants are regarded as the most beneficial policy instrument (29%), followed by loans (12%). Access to venture capital investment: If history is any guide, venture capital activity will likely decline in 2020 as well. This creates a quandary for the 18% of start-ups that require access to financing tools to increase investment. Employment support schemes: COVID-19 has had an impact on workforces all over the world. The US lost a record 20.5 million jobs in April, the fastest and sharpest drop since the government began tracking the data. Given these circumstances, it's no surprise that 17 percent of start-ups rank immediate employee protection as one of their top priorities.

Read More

Creating Public Value using the AI-Driven Internet of Things

Article | May 26, 2021

The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the importance of constant innovation—as well as the need to respond quickly, agilely, and on a large scale. During the early stages of the pandemic, governments increased mask production, facilitated data sharing among pharmaceutical companies, relaxed regulatory requirements for certain tests and drugs, and accelerated vaccine production. These were the critical first steps in what turned out to be a highly successful collaboration with the private sector, non-profit organizations, and research institutions. Governments have served as catalysts throughout the pandemic, assembling and enabling multi-sector efforts to deal with the flood of cases and develop vaccines. Even before the pandemic, the government's role as a solution catalyst was expanding in scope and complexity, with a focus on how to harness innovation across sectors for public benefit. Governments have gone beyond repairing market failures as commercial and cross-sector innovation has accelerated. Governments are fostering cross-sector solutions for a variety of societal challenges, including public health, climate change, and cybersecurity, in addition to assisting in the strengthening of strategic sectors such as defence and space. Utilizing outside innovation to drive mission delivery Many technologies have been developed by the commercial sectorthat can be used to address complex societal problems. Governments are looking into ways to use these capabilities to improve mission delivery in ways other than contracting, in order to develop a broader set of partners and solutions. It is not always easy to implement such technologies in the public sector. Governments, unlike commercial entities with access to legal and financial structures such as joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions, must find more creative ways to capitalize on external innovation based on mutual interest and advantage across sectors. Government action and innovation State and local government leaders face shrinking resources, demanding constituents, complex policy environments, and constant pressure to deliver results on time.

Read More

5 (free) things governments can do to reposition for the future

Article | May 27, 2021

During the pandemic, the United States supported the WHO through collaborative operations. Let’s understand in detail below. The United States government has historically supported WHO financially, through involvement in governance and diplomacy, and through collaborative operations. A new chapter in the U.S. relationship with WHO began in 2020, following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Trump administration ceased financial support and started the process to withdraw the country from membership. Financial Support: The United States has traditionally been the single largest donor to WHO, but in the 2020–2021 period it was the second largest as other donors, particularly Germany, increased their contributions. The U.S. dropped to third place. The United States contributed an anticipated $581 million to the WHO in 2021 as a result of restored funding from the Biden administration, which included both assessed and voluntary contributions. The assessed contribution for the United States has been set at the maximum permitted rate of 22% of all assessed payments from member states for a number of years. The U.S. assessed contribution has been very consistent between FY 2014 and FY 2022, varying between $110 million and $123 million. Increased U.S. support for particular WHO initiatives, such as emergency response, may be reflected in higher levels of voluntary contributions. Other WHO initiatives supported by U.S. voluntary donations include the fight against polio, maternal, infant, and child health initiatives, food safety initiatives, and regulatory monitoring of pharmaceuticals. Governance Activities: The United States has long been a prominent and involved member of the World Health Assembly, sending a sizable delegation that is typically headed by a delegate from the Department of Health and Human Services and includes representatives from numerous other U.S. agencies and departments. Technical Support: Government officials from the United States frequently act as liaisons at WHO regional offices and headquarters, collaborating daily with employees on technical initiatives. Partnering Activities: The United States has collaborated with WHO both before and during epidemic responses and other global health emergencies, notably by joining multinational teams that WHO organises to look into and address outbreaks all around the world. For instance, the US collaborated with WHO and the larger global response to the 2014-onset Ebola epidemic in West Africa, and US scientists were a part of the WHO mission that visited China in February 2020 to evaluate their COVID-19 response.

Read More
GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

Tech Trends that Affect Governments in 2022

Article | July 11, 2022

Governments and public authorities, like any other part of society, are vulnerable to technological disruption. Many of the issues confronting the government today stem from the fight to combat the global COVID-19 pandemic. Government institutions frequently discover that by employing tactics and strategies similar to those used by industry and the private sector, they, too, could learn to be more flexible and agile in their response. As a result, they have experienced a faster rate of digital transformation. Artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), and digital twins are now firmly on the agenda of governments and public bodies, whereas they were previously only on the roadmap. Many governments, particularly in more developed countries, have realized that they simply cannot afford to be complacent when there is so much potential for positive change. So, with that in mind, here's a rundown of some of the most significant tech trends affecting governments in 2022. Digital Identity: Biometric measures, can be used in identity schemes to link an individual as a physical entity to their digital identity. AI and Automation of Public Services: In the United States, federal, state, and local governments are all ramping up experiments with natural language processing (NLP) technologies to reduce customer friction. Cyber Security: Close monitoring of cyber security is a high priority for states. In 2021, the US government announced that it would assist businesses in defending themselves against nation-state attacks. National Cryptocurrencies: The benefits of cryptocurrency as a monetary system are clearly compelling enough to pique the interest of governments and central banks, but there are questions that must be addressed, particularly those concerning environmental costs and energy consumption, which may have political ramifications. The Rise of Govtech Start-ups: The field is now open for a new breed of start-up known as "govtechs" to bring fresh thinking to the challenge of driving the digital revolution in government. For example, in the United States, federal, state, and local governments are popular with services that received a high volume of calls during the pandemic. The above discussed trends are the five biggest tech trends transforming government in 2022.

Read More
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Spotlight

City of Roanoke, TX

Dine, Shop and Play in Roanoke- The Unique Dining Capital of Texas! Roanoke offers a unique quality of life, with a rich heritage dating back to the 1840’s. Tucked away in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Roanoke offers a friendly, small town charm with all the amenities of a big city. Roanoke’s excellent location provides access to major metropolitan amenities including airports, interstate highways, rail services, dining, shopping and entertainment.

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EMERGING TECHNOLOGY,GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

Homeland Security Technology Consortium Names Candidates For $25,000 In Prizes

Homeland Security Technology Consortium | August 12, 2022

The Homeland Security Technology Consortium (HSTech), Advanced Technology International (ATI), and TechConnect today announced 17 finalists in the Security Innovation Challenge. These candidates will vie for $25,000 in prizes on September 29, 2022 when they pitch cutting-edge identity management technology before a room of corporate buyers, funders, and federal agencies in Washington, D.C. at Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit. Finalists also receive membership to HSTech, which supports the Department of Homeland Security in providing collaborative R&D and rapid prototyping capabilities critical to homeland security missions. "If you're capable and interested in making security and privacy-centric contributions for the betterment of the nation, there are no funding vehicles more powerful than HSTech's consortium-managed other transaction authority, The Security Innovation Challenge will bring together finalists which are 85% non-traditional, meaning they are new to government contracting. These are technology solutions our nation might never have found without HSTech engagement, and we're honored to help build that bridge between private-sector and government needs." -Matthew Laudon, Vice President - TechConnect Division, ATI. Challenge applicants represent privacy-centric solutions for both civilian and federal applications, especially in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML); cybersecurity platforms; data harmonization software; pattern recognition software; and real-time analytics platforms. Primarily more advanced technologies, 65% represent technology readiness level six (6) or higher; and 85% boast at least prototype development. "The Homeland Security Technology Consortium supports the security of our nation by addressing mission needs at the Department of Homeland Security and its partner agencies. Privacy-centric identity management technologies and processes remain critical capabilities across the federal enterprise, and we're excited to see what this group of innovators can show us in September." -Michael Dougherty, Executive Director of HSTech. About Homeland Security Technology Consortium: The Homeland Security Technology Consortium (HSTech) supports the collaborative R&D and rapid prototyping/piloting needs for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and its components. HSTech sources capabilities across the homeland security and national border security technology spectrum. About TechConnect: With 25+ years of experience connecting emerging technologies with unique funding and partnership opportunities, TechConnect boasts the most robust research and innovation network in the world. It employs a broad scope of tools to deliver top technologies, including open innovation programs, conferences, and open-access publications. Each year, TechConnect prospects, vets, and connects thousands of emerging technologies with corporate, investment, municipal, and national defense clients. TechConnect is a division of Advanced Technology International. About Advanced Technology International: ATI, a public-service nonprofit based in Summerville, S.C., builds and manages collaborations that conduct research and development of new technologies to solve our nation's most pressing challenges. Fueled by a community of experts from industry, academia, and government, ATI accelerates impact by using the power of collaboration to help the federal government quickly acquire novel technologies. ATI is a subsidiary of Analytic Services, Inc. (ANSER), a public-service research institute organized as a nonprofit corporation, which is dedicated to informing decisions that shape the nation's future.

Read More

GOVERNMENT FINANCE

Canvass AI Accelerates Expansion with Completion of US $14.23 Million Series A Funding

FedDev Ontario | August 10, 2022

Canvass Analytics Inc. ("Canvass AI"), a leader in industrial AI software, today announced the completion of its previously reported Series A financing with an extension of US $7.73 million, led by Yamaha Motors Ventures and a CDN $5.7 million (US $4.43 million) repayable loan from the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). The Series A extension will fuel the company's mission to empower industrial workforces to drive impact across their operations with the power of Industrial AI. "The completion of our Series A endorses our go-to-market strategy and the acceptance of our solution in market. Today, leading industrials and manufacturers are using our patented Canvass AI platform to solve challenges that have plagued their operations for decades. This, in turn, is providing a positive impact to their productivity, profitability, and sustainability goals, This additional financing places us in a solid position to achieve our growth plans and accelerate AI adoption in large and mid-cap industrial companies." -Humera Malik, CEO of Canvass AI. As previously announced, the FedDev loan will enable the company to expand its diverse and inclusive workforce in Ontario as the company accelerates its growth with industrial companies who are rapidly adopting and scaling AI across their operations. "Our government believes that protecting our environment and fighting climate change is not only the right thing to do for the planet but also for our economy. The Government of Canada is proud to support tech companies like Canvass AI in the important work they are doing to reduce the environmental impact of major industries as we move toward net-zero emissions." -Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. Canvass AI's laser focus on enabling industrial companies to achieve their performance goals faster with the power of AI is filling a gap in the market that industrial companies have been searching for. We are excited by Canvass AI's strategy to empower industrial engineers as the change makers of Industry 4.0 so that the industrials can extend their competitive advantage, reduce costs, and advance their sustainability initiatives, commented Anish Patel, COO and Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Ventures. Canvass AI's customers span the oil and gas, chemical and petrochemical, metals and mining, and energy sectors, all of which contribute significantly to the global economy and will play key roles in combating climate change. The Canvass AI platform provides industrial engineers with easy-to-use AI solutions to apply and scale across their operations that address their operational challenges, without requiring coding or data science expertise. Today, leading companies use Canvass AI to reduce carbon emissions and waste, improve yields, optimize facility operations, improve asset reliability and integrity, and optimize energy consumption. About Canvass AI: Canvass AI is a leading industrial AI software provider that puts the power of AI in the hands of industrial workforces to solve day-to-day operational problems. Some of the world's largest companies use Canvass AI's patented Industrial AI Platform to reduce carbon emissions and waste, improve yields, and optimize facility operations. Backed by Alphabet and Yamaha Motor Ventures, the Company is recognized by CB Insights as one of the world's top 50 technology companies that is advancing manufacturing. About FedDev Ontario: For 13 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada's most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region.

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GOVERNMENT BUSINESS,CYBERSECURITY

DLA Piper represents SixGen in its acquisition of Fourcast Management and Analysis

DLA Piper | August 09, 2022

DLA Piper represented SixGen, Inc., a leading cybersecurity and products company based in Maryland, in its acquisition of Fourcast Management and Analysis, Inc., a Maryland-based technology management consulting company. SixGen provides world-class cybersecurity services and products to protect government organizations and commercial industries. Using innovative processes, tools, and advanced techniques, SixGen predicts and overcomes cybersecurity vulnerabilities. SixGen prioritizes best practices, customer requirements and privacy and overall mission impact. The strategic acquisition of Fourcast Management and Analysis – a leading management consulting company that provides seasoned advisory services, skills, and assistance in the areas of finance, budget and cost estimation – will bolster SixGen's mission to provide the highest quality services to customers and enable employee growth through diversified opportunities. "Congratulations to SixGen on this strategic acquisition of Fourcast, which will allow the company to grow in the cybersecurity and professional services sector, It was a pleasure collaborating and bringing together our deep knowledge and capabilities in the professional services industry to close this deal." -Jeffrey Houle, co-chair of DLA Piper's Aerospace, Defense and Government Services Transactional practice who led the team that advised SixGen. We're immensely proud of this pivotal deal. We thoroughly enjoyed working with the DLA Piper team and believe this acquisition will have an immediate impact on the level of service we can provide to our customers, said Chris Brady, chairman of Chart National, an investor in SixGen. In addition to Houle (Washington, DC), the deal team included partners Thomas Pilkerton III, Julia Kovacs and Jordan Bailowitz (all three in Baltimore) and Brad Jorgensen (Austin); of counsel Christopher Armstrong (Baltimore); and associate Josh Feldman (Baltimore). With more than 1,000 corporate lawyers globally, DLA Piper helps clients execute complex transactions seamlessly while supporting clients across all stages of development. The firm has been rated number one in global M&A volume for 12 consecutive years, according to Mergermarket. DLA Piper's global Technology sector lawyers work across practice areas and offices to support technology clients – from startups to fast-growing and mid-market businesses to mature global enterprises – doing business around the world. About DLA Piper: DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, positioning us to help clients with their legal needs around the world. In certain jurisdictions, this information may be considered attorney advertising.

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EMERGING TECHNOLOGY,GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

Homeland Security Technology Consortium Names Candidates For $25,000 In Prizes

Homeland Security Technology Consortium | August 12, 2022

The Homeland Security Technology Consortium (HSTech), Advanced Technology International (ATI), and TechConnect today announced 17 finalists in the Security Innovation Challenge. These candidates will vie for $25,000 in prizes on September 29, 2022 when they pitch cutting-edge identity management technology before a room of corporate buyers, funders, and federal agencies in Washington, D.C. at Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit. Finalists also receive membership to HSTech, which supports the Department of Homeland Security in providing collaborative R&D and rapid prototyping capabilities critical to homeland security missions. "If you're capable and interested in making security and privacy-centric contributions for the betterment of the nation, there are no funding vehicles more powerful than HSTech's consortium-managed other transaction authority, The Security Innovation Challenge will bring together finalists which are 85% non-traditional, meaning they are new to government contracting. These are technology solutions our nation might never have found without HSTech engagement, and we're honored to help build that bridge between private-sector and government needs." -Matthew Laudon, Vice President - TechConnect Division, ATI. Challenge applicants represent privacy-centric solutions for both civilian and federal applications, especially in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML); cybersecurity platforms; data harmonization software; pattern recognition software; and real-time analytics platforms. Primarily more advanced technologies, 65% represent technology readiness level six (6) or higher; and 85% boast at least prototype development. "The Homeland Security Technology Consortium supports the security of our nation by addressing mission needs at the Department of Homeland Security and its partner agencies. Privacy-centric identity management technologies and processes remain critical capabilities across the federal enterprise, and we're excited to see what this group of innovators can show us in September." -Michael Dougherty, Executive Director of HSTech. About Homeland Security Technology Consortium: The Homeland Security Technology Consortium (HSTech) supports the collaborative R&D and rapid prototyping/piloting needs for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and its components. HSTech sources capabilities across the homeland security and national border security technology spectrum. About TechConnect: With 25+ years of experience connecting emerging technologies with unique funding and partnership opportunities, TechConnect boasts the most robust research and innovation network in the world. It employs a broad scope of tools to deliver top technologies, including open innovation programs, conferences, and open-access publications. Each year, TechConnect prospects, vets, and connects thousands of emerging technologies with corporate, investment, municipal, and national defense clients. TechConnect is a division of Advanced Technology International. About Advanced Technology International: ATI, a public-service nonprofit based in Summerville, S.C., builds and manages collaborations that conduct research and development of new technologies to solve our nation's most pressing challenges. Fueled by a community of experts from industry, academia, and government, ATI accelerates impact by using the power of collaboration to help the federal government quickly acquire novel technologies. ATI is a subsidiary of Analytic Services, Inc. (ANSER), a public-service research institute organized as a nonprofit corporation, which is dedicated to informing decisions that shape the nation's future.

Read More

GOVERNMENT FINANCE

Canvass AI Accelerates Expansion with Completion of US $14.23 Million Series A Funding

FedDev Ontario | August 10, 2022

Canvass Analytics Inc. ("Canvass AI"), a leader in industrial AI software, today announced the completion of its previously reported Series A financing with an extension of US $7.73 million, led by Yamaha Motors Ventures and a CDN $5.7 million (US $4.43 million) repayable loan from the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). The Series A extension will fuel the company's mission to empower industrial workforces to drive impact across their operations with the power of Industrial AI. "The completion of our Series A endorses our go-to-market strategy and the acceptance of our solution in market. Today, leading industrials and manufacturers are using our patented Canvass AI platform to solve challenges that have plagued their operations for decades. This, in turn, is providing a positive impact to their productivity, profitability, and sustainability goals, This additional financing places us in a solid position to achieve our growth plans and accelerate AI adoption in large and mid-cap industrial companies." -Humera Malik, CEO of Canvass AI. As previously announced, the FedDev loan will enable the company to expand its diverse and inclusive workforce in Ontario as the company accelerates its growth with industrial companies who are rapidly adopting and scaling AI across their operations. "Our government believes that protecting our environment and fighting climate change is not only the right thing to do for the planet but also for our economy. The Government of Canada is proud to support tech companies like Canvass AI in the important work they are doing to reduce the environmental impact of major industries as we move toward net-zero emissions." -Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. Canvass AI's laser focus on enabling industrial companies to achieve their performance goals faster with the power of AI is filling a gap in the market that industrial companies have been searching for. We are excited by Canvass AI's strategy to empower industrial engineers as the change makers of Industry 4.0 so that the industrials can extend their competitive advantage, reduce costs, and advance their sustainability initiatives, commented Anish Patel, COO and Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Ventures. Canvass AI's customers span the oil and gas, chemical and petrochemical, metals and mining, and energy sectors, all of which contribute significantly to the global economy and will play key roles in combating climate change. The Canvass AI platform provides industrial engineers with easy-to-use AI solutions to apply and scale across their operations that address their operational challenges, without requiring coding or data science expertise. Today, leading companies use Canvass AI to reduce carbon emissions and waste, improve yields, optimize facility operations, improve asset reliability and integrity, and optimize energy consumption. About Canvass AI: Canvass AI is a leading industrial AI software provider that puts the power of AI in the hands of industrial workforces to solve day-to-day operational problems. Some of the world's largest companies use Canvass AI's patented Industrial AI Platform to reduce carbon emissions and waste, improve yields, and optimize facility operations. Backed by Alphabet and Yamaha Motor Ventures, the Company is recognized by CB Insights as one of the world's top 50 technology companies that is advancing manufacturing. About FedDev Ontario: For 13 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada's most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region.

Read More

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS,CYBERSECURITY

DLA Piper represents SixGen in its acquisition of Fourcast Management and Analysis

DLA Piper | August 09, 2022

DLA Piper represented SixGen, Inc., a leading cybersecurity and products company based in Maryland, in its acquisition of Fourcast Management and Analysis, Inc., a Maryland-based technology management consulting company. SixGen provides world-class cybersecurity services and products to protect government organizations and commercial industries. Using innovative processes, tools, and advanced techniques, SixGen predicts and overcomes cybersecurity vulnerabilities. SixGen prioritizes best practices, customer requirements and privacy and overall mission impact. The strategic acquisition of Fourcast Management and Analysis – a leading management consulting company that provides seasoned advisory services, skills, and assistance in the areas of finance, budget and cost estimation – will bolster SixGen's mission to provide the highest quality services to customers and enable employee growth through diversified opportunities. "Congratulations to SixGen on this strategic acquisition of Fourcast, which will allow the company to grow in the cybersecurity and professional services sector, It was a pleasure collaborating and bringing together our deep knowledge and capabilities in the professional services industry to close this deal." -Jeffrey Houle, co-chair of DLA Piper's Aerospace, Defense and Government Services Transactional practice who led the team that advised SixGen. We're immensely proud of this pivotal deal. We thoroughly enjoyed working with the DLA Piper team and believe this acquisition will have an immediate impact on the level of service we can provide to our customers, said Chris Brady, chairman of Chart National, an investor in SixGen. In addition to Houle (Washington, DC), the deal team included partners Thomas Pilkerton III, Julia Kovacs and Jordan Bailowitz (all three in Baltimore) and Brad Jorgensen (Austin); of counsel Christopher Armstrong (Baltimore); and associate Josh Feldman (Baltimore). With more than 1,000 corporate lawyers globally, DLA Piper helps clients execute complex transactions seamlessly while supporting clients across all stages of development. The firm has been rated number one in global M&A volume for 12 consecutive years, according to Mergermarket. DLA Piper's global Technology sector lawyers work across practice areas and offices to support technology clients – from startups to fast-growing and mid-market businesses to mature global enterprises – doing business around the world. About DLA Piper: DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, positioning us to help clients with their legal needs around the world. In certain jurisdictions, this information may be considered attorney advertising.

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