On Friday, May 2, 2008, the Center for Homeland Security, in collaboration with the Colorado Homeland Defense Alliance, sponsored the Second Annual National Security Innovation Competition among colleges and universities.  Seven teams representing the University of Wyoming, Colorado State University, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and the United States Air Force Academy competed in this year's program.  Produced by the Colorado Springs Technology Incubator, and hosted by the Mitre Corporation, the NSIC highlighted technologies being researched and developed to improve national security and public safety.  Stephen Dennis from the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency headed a distinguished panel of regional research and development experts in choosing this year's winners.  The Air Force Academy swept top honors taking first and second place with research into ionic fluids for ecological remediation of chemical and biological hazards, and an ultra-high resolution visual sensor based on the structure of an insect's eye.  Third place went to CSU's "Good Samaritan", a cost-effective, light weight autonomous robot for conducting search and rescue inside collapsed buildings and other hazardous areas.  The first place winners received a check for $2000 from CHS; second place won $1000 from Delta Solutions & Strategies; and third place received a check for $500 from the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association.  Next year, the Technology Incubator hopes to expand the competition to include regional semi-finals across the country, culminating in a final showdown here in Colorado Springs.