The goals of the summit were to:

• Provide subject matter experts to discuss current and future homeland security challenges

• Showcase innovative R&D tools and solutions to homeland security challenges

• Facilitate collaboration among DHS COE researchers, homeland security enterprise leadership and component end-users and industry participants

• Provide avenues to accelerate the transition from R&D to reality for those who protect the homeland

 

There are multiple COEs doing research on the following areas:

• Natural and man-made disasters: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery

• Securing and facilitating transnational flows

• Eliminating threats to transportation and other public venues

• Improving the security and resilience of interdependent critical infrastructure.

 

Through a series of moderated panels, lessons from recent natural and man-made disasters, concerns about critical infrastructure and issues of border management were presented to summit participants.

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In addition to the panels, the summit hosted an Innovation Showcase featuring exhibits and spotlight presentations from various DHS CoEs.  MNA representatives met with several presenters supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection and University of Houston’s Borders, Trade and Immigration Institute to see where we might provide support and insights into some of their developing research and solutions.