High Technology Development Corporation

The High Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) is an agency of the State of Hawaii that leads the State’s tech-based economic development (TBED) efforts. HTDC is charged to:
1. Develop technology parks and manage incubation centers
2. Provide entrepreneurial business assistance and implement programs to organize the innovation industry, and
3. Assist the legislative and executive branches to develop sound policy to further our innovation-based economy.

Our current incubation centers include the Manoa Innovation Center on Oahu and the Maui Research and Technology Center on Maui. INNOVATE Hawaii is our flagship program established to achieve the business assistance goal for a wide constituent base that includes the nanotechnology industry. It is designed to leverage both federal and state funds to create best and innovative practices to small and medium-size businesses at an affordable cost. The State offers a match to Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I awards through INNOVATE Hawaii. Other sectors we serve includes, but is not limited to food processing, agribusiness, construction materials, management consulting, electronics, metals, secondary wood, textile, and biotech, at every level, from R&D and industry formation to commercialization and exporting.

Established in 1983, HTDC is funded primarily by its incubator rent revenue (~40 clients in FY 2011), State general treasury funds, as well as Federal funds and grants. Since the inception of the Hawaii SBIR program in 1989, 84 Hawaii companies have been served with 317 Phase I Hawaii SBIR awards, with matching grants from our agency totaling nearly $6M. Collectively the Hawaii companies have earned ~$32M for Phase I, ~$70M with Phase II, and ~$72M with Phase III. The return on investment (ROI) for the Hawaii SBIR program for Phase I & II is $17 for every $1, and for Phase I, II & III together, and $29 for every $1. In FY2011 alone, INNOVATE Hawaii program assisted companies in creation of 74 new jobs, and a $12.5 M increase in sales for our client companies.

Success Story
Oceanit’s materials group is developing advanced materials technologies like Nanite™, a smart concrete technology that transforms the power and possibilities of cementitious materials when used in design, building, function and maintenance. The integral part of Nanite™ is a hybrid nonmaterial based additive, which transforms traditional concrete into a highly durable and inherently sensing smart concrete with multifunctional properties. Nanite™ received the NASA Nano 50 Award which recognizes the top 50 technologies, innovators and products that impact nanotechnology and industry.