ESET Foundation to Support Securing Our eCity® Initiative and Drive Awareness and Education for Cyber and Societal Challenges

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San Diego, CA, March 14, 2012

ESET Foundation to Support Securing Our eCity® Initiative and Drive Awareness and Education for Cyber and Societal Challenges

ESET today announced that it has established the ESET Foundation, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. ESET has established the ESET Foundation to further support its Securing Our eCity initiative and commitment to community collaboration to support cybersecurity awareness, education and societal challenges within the San Diego community and across the nation.

“The ESET Foundation is strongly committed to providing support to the greater San Diego area and to computer users across the world,” said Anton Zajac, president of ESET North America and ESET Foundation president. “We believe that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and are working to arm computer users with the tools and knowledge necessary to become safer in cyber space. We are honored by the support that the community and nation have given to Securing Our eCity and are thrilled to have such prominent representatives from industry and community on our board of directors for the foundation.” 

In mid-2008, Securing Our eCity was established and a movement to educate San Diego’s digital citizens was born. Securing Our eCity provides awareness of potential issues and offers free cybersecurity information and education that assists businesses, families, youths and seniors to better prepare for a safer cyber experience in rapidly changing technology driven environments.

“With cybersecurity being a critical issue, programs like Securing Our eCity are crucial in providing the necessary resources related to education to help keep businesses and consumers safe in cyber space,” said Jessie J. Knight Jr., chairman and CEO of San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and ESET Foundation chairperson. “At SDG&E, we are committed to protecting our critical infrastructure and working with the community to create a new generation of cyber-savvy citizens. I look forward to working with the ESET Foundation to continue to bring cybersecurity awareness, education and preparation to the residents of San Diego.”

This past year, Securing Our eCity worked with organizations like the San Diego Police Foundation, Girl Scouts USA, The Boy Scouts of America and others to bring cybersecurity awareness and education to the San Diego community. Additionally, Securing Our eCity expanded nationally by aligning with other various cyber initiatives across the nation including: Cyber City USA in San Antonio, TX, WC4 in Washtenaw County, MI, and Cyber Maryland to advance cybersecurity awareness, education and preparation through community driven programs. Furthermore, Securing Our eCity’s 2011 fall symposium and awards ceremony was attended by more than 350 security professionals, business executives and managers, IT consultants, government and law enforcement officials.

“Securing Our eCity has done a tremendous job of working to make San Diego a place where people can build a better cybersecurity environment through community engagement,” said Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance and ESET Foundation board member. “We are excited that the National Cyber Security Alliance has been a part of Securing Our eCity from the beginning, and we look forward to continuing to support the program, both in San Diego and across the nation.”

ESET Foundation board members and officers include, Jessie J. Knight Jr., chairperson, Anton Zajac, president, Randy Frisch, treasurer and Pamela Richardson, secretary. Additional board members include, Andrew Lee, CEO of ESET North America, Darin Andersen, general manager North America for Norman Defense Systems, Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance, Liz Fraumann, director of cybersecurity awareness and education at ESET North America, as well as other members of the San Diego community.

For additional information about Securing Our eCity, upcoming events and ways to get involved, please visit, http://www.securingourecity.com/.

About The ESET Foundation

Founded in late 2011, the ESET Foundation’s mission is to foster community collaboration to create educational awareness for cyber and societal challenges. Headquarted in San Diego, the ESET Foundation’s signature program is the award-winning Securing Our eCity®, recognized in 2010 by the White House and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the best local and community program. The ESET Foundation brings together like-minded organizations whose primary goal is to encourage cybersecurity for business, families, youth and seniors. For more information visit www.esetfoundation.org or, please email Steve.Kovsky@esetfoundation.org

 

About Securing Our eCity

Securing Our eCity (SOeC) is an initiative created and led by ESET North America, a San Diego based software security company. SOeC is focused on fostering public/private partnerships at local, state, national and international levels while helping counter cyber threats and creating more cyber secure communities across the globe. Stakeholders from coast to coast including consumer advocates, business owners, and governmental agencies (law enforcement and legislative bodies) have come together to raise awareness, education and help individuals and businesses prepare for cyber security challenges now and in the future. The founding stakeholders include ESET North America, San Diego Business Journal, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, UCSD and SDSU. To learn more, visit: www.securingourecity.org

For the latest cyber threat and education information, follow Securing Our eCity on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook or follow our blog at http://www.securingourecity.org/blog.

Venture Acceleration Fund Accepting Applications

News release from Los Alamos National Laboratory:

Venture Acceleration Fund associated with LANL now accepting applications for 2012

LOS ALAMOS, New Mexico, January 23, 2012—The Venture Acceleration Fund of Los Alamos National Security, LLC, the company that manages and operates Los Alamos National Laboratory for the National Nuclear Security Administration, is now accepting applications for the 2012 calendar year. The three companies selected in the completion will receive up to $100,000 each to commercialize technology and take it to market faster.

The Venture Acceleration Fund (VAF) helps innovative companies reach the next level of success through business and technology development activities such as proof-of-concept, prototyping, securing initial customers, or obtaining additional funding. Companies located in the Northern New Mexico counties of Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Sandoval, Rio Arriba, Taos, San Miguel, and Mora are given preference for funding, as are projects associated with LANL technology or expertise.

VAF applications will be accepted throughout 2012 and will be reviewed in three rounds corresponding to three application deadlines: February 24, May 25, and August 25. One award will be made for each round. "The quality of applications has increased greatly over the past two years, so we expect the process will be competitive for 2012," said David Pesiri, Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Technology Transfer Division leader. "Nevertheless, our team often assists those companies that aren’t selected by connecting them with other resources to meet their specific needs and achieve good commercialization outcomes for the broadest set of customers possible."

In 2011, Los Alamos start-up company Manhattan Isotope Technology, LLC received a VAF award to develop, test, and validate a radio analytical lab for manufacturing strontium-82, which is used for heart imaging. The company is positioned to expand the limited availability of strontium-82 to the marketplace, currently only produced by Los Alamos National Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Vista Therapeutics, Inc. of Santa Fe also received VAF funding in 2011. The company is developing a NanoBiosensor System that will revolutionize the measurement of biomarkers, such as proteins, that are produced in response to trauma or disease. Funding was used to complete research and development and to adapt devices for a potential first customer. Chief Scientific Officer Spencer Farr expects that Vista’s new technology will hasten a personalized approach to medicine and will help the company create 40 high-paying jobs.

Ideum, another VAF recipient, used its funding to develop a new version of the company’s gesture-based software platform called "GestureWorks" for international release. Ideum customizes interactive exhibits and multi-touch tables for museums. "The VAF award allowed us to accelerate our schedule from 16 months to 8,” says Ideum’s founder, Jim Spadaccini. “This has huge implications for getting into the marketplace quickly."

Los Alamos National Security, LLC invests $1 million per year in economic development through a program known as Northern New Mexico Connect. Northern New Mexico Connect promotes VAF and a variety of other business development programs. In the past six years, 166 companies have created and retained 240 jobs and attracted $8.2 million in new funding and financing as a result of their work with Northern New Mexico Connect.

To find out more about the LANS Venture Acceleration Fund or to submit a VAF Application in 2012, visit www.nnmconnect.net or contact Belinda Snyder of Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Technology Transfer Division at bee@lanl.gov.

About Los Alamos National Laboratory

Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, a team composed of Bechtel National, the University of California, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and URS for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.

Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.