By Mickey McCarter, HSToday Senior Washington Correspondent

The first business incubator dedicated exclusively to homeland security technologies, Chesapeake Innovation Center (CIC) of Annapolis, Md., announced the results of its first competitive evaluation of those technologies in its Defend America Challenge last week.

The competition had two parts. First, 25 start-ups—23 from the United States and two from other nations—submitted business plans for review by the CIC, which hosted the competition to attract venture capitalists and other interested parties. Second, the CIC evaluated more than 50 technology submissions strictly from within the state of Maryland. The center provided a top prize of $50,000 to two start-up companies with solutions to assist first responders and screeners.

ScanTech Holdings LLC of Atlanta, Ga., won the first part of the competition. It has developed X-ray technology for the detection of explosives and other illegal substances. The second part was won by Sensics Inc. of Baltimore, Md., which has developed a "panoramic head-mounted display" designed to train first responders for emergency situations.

The ScanTech X-ray system, called the IBS Sentinel, analyzes substances within containers to determine if they are solid or liquid. It calculates the atomic weight and density of a substance and matches it to information stored in its computer memory. ScanTech offers a small version of the machine for packages and larger versions for trucks hauling cargo and the like.

The Sensics display, named piSight, serves as virtual reality goggles to train first responders by simulating dangerous scenarios. The goggles also permit first responders to perform dangerous tasks using robotics from a distance.

The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation founded the CIC to encourage economic development in the county surrounding Annapolis. The Defend America Challenge was judged by venture capitalists and state and local officials, as well as representatives from top homeland security companies.