Virtual Security Promises Money

A number of Northwest Arkansas firms should be excited about the recent Wall Street Journal article that predicted a rush of federal spending during the coming year on technology for homeland security. VSC’s capacity-enabling ability carries obvious applications for the military, but they’re not the only area company that can contribute to the war on terrorism.

Chuck Chalfant is president & CEO of Space Photonics Inc. in Fayetteville, which makes fiber optic components for niche avionics and space-born systems. He already does R&D for NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense.

David Nelms, founder and chief technology officer of Integral Wave Technologies in Fayetteville, is developing thin film passive components for electronics, similar to the hundreds used in every cell phone. The MIT Technology Review recently credited Integral’s work in making wireless devices sleeker and more efficient.

The key for area firms will be getting Arkansas’ legislators in Washington to fight for anti-terror funding that can help create R&D jobs back home. U.S. Rep. Mike Honda, D-California, apparently has already gotten the jump on other states by getting aggressive for high-tech firms in the Silicon Valley.