Innovative Technologies Sought for U.S. Government Contractors and Agencies

ANNAPOLIS, Md. , Oct. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Chesapeake Innovation Center (CIC) is seeking innovative technology companies to participate in its TechBridge program. The next TechBridge is scheduled for November 19, 2008 at the CIC offices located in Annapolis, Maryland . The Chesapeake Innovation Center is the nation's first business accelerator to focus the power of entrepreneurship on America's homeland and national security requirements.

The bi-monthly TechBridge showcase and program connects the CIC Partners who are U.S. government contractors and agencies, with companies at the forefront of innovation. CIC Partners -- Northrop Grumman, ARINC, Boeing, and the National Security Agency -- are represented at each TechBridge to evaluate technology products from presentations made by 5 to 7 selected companies. Since its inception in 2003, 119 local, national, and international companies have participated in this program.

"The Chesapeake Innovation Center's TechBridge program provides Northrop Grumman with an effective mechanism to access innovative technology companies from across the United States ," said Dennis Fortner , senior manager of Intellectual Property and Strategic Technology Agreements at Northrop Grumman's Linthicum-based Electronic Systems sector. "These new technologies may have the potential to be useful in our homeland security and defense-related businesses."

" Anne Arundel County has a strong defense industry that includes eight out of the top ten U.S. defense contractors," said Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold . "The CIC provides an important service by scouting and showcasing technology that could be of great value to our large contractors."

"The TechBridge process has many benefits," said Sarah Djamshidi , CIC Executive Director. "For some innovative technology companies with products ready to enter into the market place, TechBridge can potentially shorten the sales cycle or it can help introduce these companies to new market opportunities. The TechBridge process also provides a way for select companies to obtain great market feedback from their potential customers."

"Finally," she continued, "TechBridge provides CIC Partners access to innovative companies and keeps them abreast of the latest technologies on which the startups are working." CIC offers both Affiliate and Residential Memberships to companies which would like to take full advantage of CIC services.

Companies interested in the TechBridge program and CIC services should call, +1-410-224-2030 or visit the website at www.cic-tech.org.

SOURCE The Chesapeake Innovation Center (CIC)