DCEO's Homeland Security Market Development (HSMD) Bureau is focused on attracting and supporting business engaged in the homeland security industry.

HSMD offers incentives designed to attract your business to Illinois, expand your existing operations or identify market opportunities.

HSMD serves as a clearinghouse for available state and federal procurement opportunities relevant to homeland security businesses.

HSMD sponsors the Homeland Security Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (HSIEC) at Northwestern University to help businesses and entrepreneurs with homeland security products, services bring their concepts to market, establish partnerships and licensing agreements with other firms and find customers. HSIEC is able to serve customers across the homeland security industry and offers specialized expertise in transportation security and logistical needs.

HSIEC has establish an advisory board, an intellectual resource focused on nexus of transportation, logistics and homeland security that includes leading homeland security solutions providers such as Motorola, Accenture, L3 Communications, Northrop Grumman and Argonne National Laboratory, as well representatives of the finance, venture capital, transportation and academic research communities to provide an additional resource for the center's clients.

For more information, please contact:
Bret Johnson, Director
Homeland Security Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center
Phone: (847) 491-2194
Email: bretj@northwestern.edu

More about the HSIEC Advisory Board

HSMD had established the Homeland Security Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) at the College of DuPage to assist businesses interested in selling HS-related products and/or services to local, state, or federal government agencies. HS PTAC will specifically help Illinois businesses compete for public sector homeland security contracts - an estimated total of $29 billion globally, with a $15.4 billion annual market in the U.S. and $13.8 billion internationally.

New opportunities posted

HSMD has established a Washington, DC office for the Bureau. This office focuses on the economic development aspects of homeland security to ensure that Illinois companies have access to the information they need to understand current and future product and service needs in homeland security - most often driven by federal needs or through the large defense industry network located in the greater DC Metro area.

Latest news from HSMD in DC
DCEO Director Jack Lavin's Hill briefing on 2/28
 

HSMD has partnered with the Illinois Board of Higher Education to establish the State of Illinois Homeland Security Field of Study program, an interdisciplinary concentration in homeland security at seven state universities to help create future homeland security industry leaders in fields such as engineering, law enforcement, chemistry and emergency management.

The new homeland security field of study program will also be supported by a new scholarship program funded by Caterpillar, which will provide a total of $25,000 to selected students pursuing the field of study program.

HSMD has partnered with Illinois Community Colleges Board to establish the Illinois Food Systems Policy Council (IFSPC). Located at Richland Community College in Decatur, the IFSPC is a public/private partnership engaged in the development of policies and programs to improve food safety and security. Richland will also operate an on-campus center to monitor national food safety practices and procedures.

HSMD has supported a Business Continuity and Preparedness Training Program. A series of seminar were held at College of Lake County, John A. Logan Community College and Lincoln Land Community College to help educate regional business owners on best practices for emergency preparedness.