The NSI and the American Security Challenge focus on innovative technologies because of their broad applications to a number of critical infrastructure sectors.  The winning technology can include:

1.  Physical security
a.  Perimeter security including sensors, CCTV, fencing, barrier/stand off products
b.  Entry, identification and asset tracking security including biometrics, smart cards, RFID
c.  Facility materials including blast/sound resistant materials,

2.  IT Security, Communication & Information management
a.  Massive data requirements including high volume/speed data collection and storage, high speed computing, advanced power supplies
b.  Information management including data fusion, multi-lingual/source/media data manipulation, data mining, visualizations
c.  Communications including mesh networking, GIS, wireless, information assurance, network security, self organizing networks

3.  Screening technologies (cargo, airport, border, etc.)
a.  Surveillance including cameras, UAV
b.  Screening technologies for human scanning, cargo scanning, luggage scanning, vehicle scanning

4.  Energy -- renewable energy technology, fuel cells, cleantech, stationary and mobile energy power supplies and storage, nanotechnology, technologies that reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

5.  Life sciences including CBRNE, WMD, IED detection.