HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

108

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY IN THE STATE OF HAWAII.

 

 

WHEREAS, Hawaii’s economic base has been, and continues to be, diversified and strengthened through the development of its high technology industry, which generates high-salaried jobs and high-value products; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative that Hawaii establish a niche that plays to its strengths, where it can maintain an advantage in the highly competitive high technology and biotechnology industries; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii’s strategic location in the Pacific region and its multicultural social environment can facilitate the global marketing of high technology and biotechnology expertise and products, and the development of intellectual property; and

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii has gained considerable renown for high technology and biotechnology research and development, and the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine and Cancer Research Center of Hawaii will be located in downtown Kakaako; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii’s technology industry is growing, and Hawaii-based companies are venturing and succeeding in several areas of biotechnology, including human health care diagnostics and therapeutics, agriculture biotechnology, marine biotechnology, bioelectronics, and infobiomedics; and

WHEREAS, the High Technology Development Corporation is the lead agency in coordinating efforts with other public and private agencies and organizations to stimulate the development of the commercial biotechnology industry in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, in the field of biotechnology alone, the number of

Hawaii companies has grown to include Neugenesis, Integrated

Coffee Technologies, Inc., Aquasearch, Cyanotech, and Mauna Kea

Neutraceuticals; and

WHEREAS, the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority and its Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology Park have been experiencing growth in the number of microbiology companies; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Small Business Innovation and Research Grant Program has received an increasing number of federal projects in the field of biotechnology; and

WHEREAS, the Manoa Innovation Center and the Maui Research and Technology Center have received an increasing number of biotechnology startup companies; and

WHEREAS, the members of the private Hawaii Technology Trade Association have established a biotechnology council; and

WHEREAS, major multi-national corporations, including Monsanto, Cargill, Novartis, and Dekalb Genetics Corporation, have conducted research in genetics in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, through a coordinated and concerted effort involving government agencies, academia, and the private sector, Hawaii can succeed in establishing a biotechnology industry -- emulating the State's previous experience in high technology development; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and the High Technology Development Corporation commissioned a report entitled, "Biotechnology in Hawaii: A Blueprint for Growth", December 1999, which was prepared by PMP Public Affairs Consulting, Inc. of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, to ensure the growth and long-term viability of the commercial biotechnology industry, it is imperative that the State understand the dynamics, changes, and current status of the biotechnology industry since the development of the assessment and strategy in the aforementioned plan; now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that the Governor is requested to appoint a biotechnology council, the members of which represent the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, other relevant executive departments and agencies, the University of Hawaii, the High Technology Development Corporation, and the private sector; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the biotechnology council is requested to assess the status of the biotechnology industry and develop strategies and coordinate initiatives to facilitate the growth and development of biotechnology industries in Hawaii, including:

(1) Evaluating the existing environment and infrastructure to support biotechnology research and development projects within the State;

(2) Investigating infrastructure needs and necessary incentives over the short-term and long-term to encourage and support biotechnology research and development projects within the State;

(3) Investigating the State’s image as a place for research and development among multinational corporations that conduct biotechnology research and development projects; and

(4) Devising specific strategies to assist in biotechnology business development, biotechnology capabilities at the University of Hawaii, and biotechnology education in Hawaii's schools; encourage collaboration among the State's universities, industry and government; and strengthen the State's leadership in biotechnology;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the biotechnology council is requested to report its findings to the Legislature twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Chairperson of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, the President of the University of Hawaii, the Deans of the Colleges of Business Administration and Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii, and the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the High Technology Development Corporation.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Biotechnology Industry; Task Force