MCLEAN, Virginia, June 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) today announced it has awarded US$50,000 to the University of Kent, United Kingdom (UK), to help support its Biometric Grand Challenge competition, which highlights innovative academic work in the Biometrics field.
The competition, designed to foster bold and innovative biometric ideas, seeks to uncover potentially influential concepts in biometrics from up-and-coming UK researchers currently working toward their doctorate degree in the field.
For the competition, students submit research papers describing their work in biometrics and its potential impact and benefits to the industry. An expert panel of judges will review and select papers for presentation during a workshop at the University's Canterbury campus on July 15 where winners will be announced. The winning student will be flown to the United Sates to participate with SAIC in the 2010 Biometrics Consortium Conference and Biometric Technology Expo, held September 21- 23 in Tampa, Fla. Students will also visit SAIC's headquarters in McLean, Va. to present their project to SAIC leadership.
This challenge will encourage university students to work with industry to adopt innovative and creative solutions, solve complex problems, think strategically and use project management skills, said Michael Fairhurst, Professor of Computer Vision at the University of Kent's School of Engineering and Digital Arts. It will help position these students to pursue careers in biometrics and leverage their abilities to help solve some of the world's most complex problems.
SAIC previously signed an agreement with the University of Kent on behalf of the United Kingdom Biometrics Institute (UKBI) to collaborate on biometric and identity projects in 2006. Fostered by efforts of the UK Trade Investment (UKTI), the agreement aims to maximize cooperation from academia, industry and government in collaborative research and development.
SAIC is pleased to partner with academia in identifying new and innovative ideas in biometrics today, said Harry Helmich, SAIC vice president and division manager. The Biometric Grand Challenge is an effective way to engage with academia and uncover innovative work by young researchers. We might just find the next big idea that helps solve a problem of global importance.
About SAIC
SAIC is a FORTUNE 500(R) scientific, engineering, and technology applications company that uses its deep domain knowledge to solve problems of vital importance to the nation and the world, in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure, and health. The company's approximately 45,000 employees serve customers in the U.S. Department of Defense, the intelligence community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, other U.S. Government civil agencies and selected commercial markets. Headquartered in McLean, Va., SAIC had annual revenues of US$10.8 billion for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2010. For more information, visit http://www.saic.com. SAIC: From Science to Solutions(R)
Statements in this announcement, other than historical data and information, constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be very different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in SAIC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended January 31, 2010, and other such filings that SAIC makes with the SEC from time to time. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.
Contact: Melissa Koskovich Laura Luke +1-703-676-6762 +1-703-676-6533 Melissa.l.koskovich@saic.com laura.luke@saic.com
SOURCE: SAIC
CONTACT: Melissa Koskovich, +1-703-676-6762, melissa.l.koskovich@saic.comor Laura Luke, +1-703-676-6533, laura.luke@saic.com
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