Pentagon Wants to Test A Space-Based Weapon in 2023

Government Executive | March 15, 2019

Defense officials want to test a neutral particle-beam in orbit in fiscal 2023 as part of a ramped-up effort to explore various types of space-based weaponry. They’ve asked for $304 million in the 2020 budget to develop such beams, more powerful lasers, and other new tech for next-generation missile defense. Such weapons are needed, they say, to counter new missiles from China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. But just figuring out what might work is a difficult technical challenge.

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Emerging Technology

US Department of Defense Selects Info-Tech Research Group for Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) Program

PR Newswire | August 04, 2023

Global IT research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group has been selected for participation in the US Department of Defence (DoD) Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) program. This new partnership enables the DoD and its IT leaders to access world-class resources, gain industry-leading guidance, and receive transformative insights and invaluable consultation from experts with extensive experience. The agreement also includes McLean & Company, a division of Info-Tech known for its exceptional HR research and advisory services, and MyPolicies, the firm's provider of robust online policy management and administration software. The DoD ESI is an official DoD initiative sponsored by the DoD Chief Information Officer (CIO). The initiative is designed to streamline procurement and optimize cost efficiency in the acquisition of commercial software, IT hardware, and services. Through its joint team of experts, ESI consolidates requirements and establishes agreements with IT providers, resulting in a unified contracting and vendor management strategy across the entire department. "We are honored to have been selected to provide services as a member of the US Department of Defense's Enterprise Software Initiative. This partnership affirms our commitment to providing world-class IT research and advisory services to the public sector," says Ron Gumbert, senior managing partner at Info-Tech. "There is a shared vision to foster a technology-enabled, efficient future for the DoD, driving strategic change and transforming challenges into opportunities." Info-Tech's public sector executive services and research team comprises highly experienced industry experts focused on supporting government clients to address mission-critical, technology-enabled initiatives. "Our recent expansion into Arlington, Virginia, signifies our dedication to being an integral part of the IT ecosystem in the US, and this collaboration with the US Department of Defense's Enterprise Software Initiative further solidifies that commitment," adds Gumbert. "Our Arlington office stands ready to serve as a strategic hub for our work with the DoD and other Federal agencies, providing unparalleled research and advisory services. This pivotal development marks a new chapter in our mission to drive impactful digital transformation within the defense sector and beyond." About Info-Tech Research Group Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading information technology research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals. The company produces unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For 25 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with IT teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

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Emerging Technology, Government Business

RSI's AI-Powered Solutions Empower Governments to Transform Operations

Newswire | June 29, 2023

Revenue Solutions, Inc. (RSI), a leading provider of advanced SaaS solutions for government revenue management and control, is revolutionizing tax compliance through its cutting-edge AI technology. By leveraging the power of analytics and machine learning, RSI's flagship product, revX, empowers governments to streamline workflows, make data-driven decisions with unprecedented efficiency, and enhance revenue management. "Governments around the world are facing increasing demands for efficiency, transparency, and compliance," says John Skinner, CEO of RSI. "At RSI, we are proud to be at the forefront of driving innovation that addresses these critical needs. revX Analytics is not just a technology solution; it represents a bold vision for transforming government operations through AI. We are empowering governments to unlock their full potential, enabling them to make more informed decisions, increase revenue, identify fraud, and optimize resources. We are committed to reinventing the way governments operate, and revX Analytics is the cornerstone of that revolution." The core principle embedded in revX Analytics is the goal of making data-driven decisions. By offering an extensive range of business rules and functions, RSI enables governments to optimize resources, saving time and money. revX Analytics automates decisions where possible, while also identifying instances where staff input and involvement is crucial. Key areas of focus for revX Analytics to support government decision-making include Discovery, Compliance, Fraud Detection, Collections Prioritization and Optimization, and Audit Selection. John Kitonis, CTO of RSI, highlights the company's continuous pursuit of innovation and technology advancement. "At RSI, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible with AI technology," says Kitonis. "We believe in being at the forefront of innovation, consistently exploring new approaches and technologies to improve our solutions. With revX Analytics, we have pushed a platform that not only harnesses the power of machine learning and data aggregation but also adapts to evolving compliance challenges. Our commitment to staying ahead of the curve ensures that our customers benefit from state-of-the-art technology that delivers accurate results, reduces workload, and enhances fraud detection. We are dedicated to empowering governments with the best tools available in the market." revX Analytics modernizes fraud detection by implementing machine learning methods and model predictions. The solution effectively scores risk and applies rules and conditions to identify potentially fraudulent activity during returns processing. This approach helps reduce the workload of refund reviews, improves fraud identification accuracy, and ensures a higher level of scrutiny for fraudulent claims. By leveraging AI technology, governments can significantly enhance their compliance review processes and identity verification protocols, resulting in a more secure and efficient revenue management system. With its advanced collections prioritization feature, revX Analytics assists governments in optimizing their delinquent account collections. By analyzing data from various sources, such as previous payment history, account aging, and risk-scoring algorithms, the platform enables governments to identify and prioritize accounts that require immediate attention. This intelligent system ensures that collection efforts are focused on high-risk accounts, maximizing the chances of successful recovery while minimizing the resources spent on low-priority cases. By analyzing a wide range of data points, including historical patterns, anomalies, and compliance indicators, revX Analytics provides optimal courses of action for audit selection. In a real-life scenario, a large State Department of Labor (DOL) benefited from RSI's analytics. Prior to RSI, the DOL identified fraud through manual processes, which became increasingly challenging due to the surge in claims during the pandemic. With the onset of the crisis, the volume of incoming claims skyrocketed from around 3,000 per week to approximately 90,000 per week, putting significant strain on the department's resources. At the same time, cases of potentially fraudulent identity increased from about nine per week to a staggering 4,500 per week. Manual case investigation was no longer feasible for the department's staff, who had to handle a 50,000% increase in workload. With RSI as their trusted analytics partner, the DOL and RSI developed a phased approach to address the overwhelming increase in claims volume. Through automation, data aggregation, and advanced analytics, RSI enabled the DOL to process and identify fraudulent claims more efficiently improving fraud identification accuracy from 50% to nearly 92%. This prevented over 130,000 imposter claims and saved billions of dollars while ensuring valid claims were promptly processed and staff had more time to investigate problematic cases. RSI's commitment to innovation is exemplified through its powerful analytics tools and capabilities. revX's AI-powered technology is revolutionizing fraud detection, optimizing workflows, and enabling data-driven decisions. The revX Platform empowers governments to effectively identify the level of risk and supply optimal courses of action, ensuring informed and strategic decision-making. As a result, governments can enhance revenue management, ensure compliance, and unlock new levels of efficiency and effectiveness. About Revenue Solutions Founded in 1996, Revenue Solutions, Inc.™ is the trusted, collaborative partner leading governments to innovation with the only cloud-native packaged software solution, revX™. Offered as Software as a Service (SaaS), revX™ is the preferred platform for government revenue processing. We empower public agencies and offices with solutions that improve citizen services, increase operational efficiency, collect additional revenue, and maximize compliance. For over 25 years, RSI™ has delivered transformative technology solutions across hundreds of client projects throughout the United States and Canada.

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Emerging Technology

Arbor Metals Establishes Strategic Alliance Department to Drive Collaboration With Automotive Industry

Globenewswire | August 22, 2023

Arbor Metals Corp. (“Arbor” or the “Company”) (TSXV: ABR, FWB: 432) announces the creation of a dedicated department focused on fostering strategic alliances with the rapidly expanding electric vehicle (EV) industry in Canada. This initiative comes in response to the growing significance of the EV sector, highlighted by recent high-profile investments such as the joint commitment by the federal government of Canada and the Quebec government to fund Ford Motor Company's new EV plant in Bécancour, Quebec. As reported by CBC News on August 17th, 2023*, the government investment underscores Canada's commitment to advancing the electric mobility revolution. The collaboration between the federal and provincial governments, with a combined investment of $644 million, exemplifies the commitment to fortify Canada's role in the EV industry. The new Ford plant in Bécancour, Quebec, is set to produce critical battery materials for electric vehicles, reaffirming Canada's emergence as a global leader in sustainable transportation. "We're witnessing a transformative moment in the Canadian automotive landscape, with a strong focus on EV production and the development of a robust supply chain," said Mark Ferguson, President and CEO of Arbor. "Establishing our Strategic Alliance Department underscores Arbors' dedication to being at the forefront of this burgeoning industry." Arbor recognizes the pivotal role that strategic alliances play in advancing the EV industry's growth and sustainability. The Company's newly formed department will work to forge partnerships, collaborations, and joint ventures with key stakeholders across the EV value chain, including automakers, battery manufacturers, and technology innovators. "We are excited to embark on this journey of collaboration and innovation, leveraging our expertise in mineral resources to contribute to the broader EV ecosystem," added Ferguson. "As we align our efforts with the evolving needs of the EV industry, we remain committed to sustainable practices and responsible development." Arbor will actively seek opportunities to contribute its knowledge, resources, and capabilities to enhance Canada's position as a global hub for electric mobility. The Company's dedication to sustainable exploration and responsible resource development aligns with the shared goals of environmental stewardship and technological advancement within the EV industry. About Arbor Metals Corp. Arbor Metals Corp. is a mining exploration company focused on developing high-value, geographically significant mineral projects worldwide. Arbor is paving the way for advanced mineral exploration as it oversees world-class mining projects. The Company is confident that combining quality projects with proven strategies and a dedicated team will yield exceptional outcomes. The Jarnet lithium project, located in the James Bay region of Quebec, comprises 47 map-designated claims, covering an area of approximately 3,759 hectares. The Jarnet project is contiguous to the Corvette-FCI property, where diamond drilling has confirmed significant lithium mineralization representing one of the highest-profile lithium exploration projects in the sector.

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