Frequently Asked Questions
General
Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) is a dynamic state agency responsible for diversifying Hawaiʻi’s economy developing a flourishing technology industry that provides quality, high-paying jobs for Hawaii residents. HTDC aims to accelerate the growth of Hawaiʻi’s high technology industry by providing capital, building infrastructure and developing talent to foster innovation and diversify Hawaii’s economy. HTDC is attached to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT).
HTDC provides key resources to help Hawaiʻi-based technology and innovation companies to thrive by providing the capital, building the infrastructure and developing the talent to foster innovation and diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy. Core initiatives include developing a statewide network of incubation services and facilities; expanding existing business development services for new start-ups, as well as existing businesses in the technology sector; providing federal and private grants and contracts in support of technology research; and supporting skilled workforce development for the technology sector.
Hawaiʻi-based businesses may qualify to participate in HTDC programs and apply for funding. Individual programs, such as the Hawaiʻi Small Business Innovation Research (HSBIR) Program, will have specific qualifications.
HCATT
In response to an Air Force Request for Proposal in August 2018 for a Resilient Power Generation and Advanced Energy Storage RTD&E Project, HCATT initiated a design build microgrid demonstration project with the Hawaiʻi Air National Guard (HIANG) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam (JBPHH) which has since been named the Pacific Energy Assurance and Renewables Laboratory (PEARL). HCATT in collaboration with AFRL, A&E Burns & McDonnell, the National Guard Bureau, Air Force Engineering Center, Hawaiʻi Air National Guard, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, and other key partners will continue to design and demonstrate resilient, reliable, renewable energy power generation and advance energy storage and distribution within the PEARL microgrid.
Hydrogen is a clean fuel that, when passed through a fuel cell, produces electricity and yields only water and heat as a byproduct. Today, the most common methods of hydrogen fuel production are natural gas reforming (a thermal process) and electrolysis. Hydrogen is odorless, can be produced renewably using power from wind and/or solar to power the electrolysis process and emits zero greenhouse gasses when utilized. These qualities make it an attractive fuel option for electric vehicle transportation and electric utility applications. Hydrogen fuel can be used in cars, in houses, and for portable power.
Hydrogen is the lightest element on the periodic table, with an atomic weight of 1.008. This means that hydrogen readily dissipates into the surrounding atmosphere, making it difficult to ignite if it is not confined. However, hydrogen is an energy carrier that is indeed – as is the case with many other fuels – highly combustible when concentrated and in the presence of oxygen. Risk assessments show however, that it is no more dangerous than other fossil fuels or natural gas. When using hydrogen it is important to be in a well-ventilated area to limit the potential for hydrogen accumulation. Hydrogen fuel can be used safely for transportation, in homes, in commercial buildings and for efficiency and conservation efforts and has been safely in use for over 100 years.
A fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. The byproduct of this electrochemical reaction is water and heat. The fuel cell produces electricity and heat by electrochemically reacting a fuel (which is generally hydrogen or hydrogen-rich) with oxygen. Unlike a conventional engine, it does this without burning the fuel and can therefore be more efficient and cleaner.
The Air Force Research Laboratory is a global technical enterprise whose mission is leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for the Air Force’s Air, Space and Cyberspace force.
MAP Grant
The purpose of the Hawaiʻi Manufacturing Assistance Program (MAP) (also referred to as the Manufacturing Development Program) is to provide grants to businesses in Hawaiʻi that are manufacturers in the State and require assistance for specific activities related to manufacturing that shall result in economic and employment growth in Hawaiʻi.
In determining the distribution of funds, the HTDC shall be guided by the nature and economic significance of the activity of each grant application, the importance of the grant to the activity’s success, and the potential economic advantage and/or job creation prospects offered to the State.
Only one grant request per company per year is allowed. However, you may apply for multiple items on one grant. For instance, multiple pieces of equipment or BOTH equipment AND training.
The minimum grant request is $1,500 and the maximum is $100,000.
Sponsorships
HTDC is seeking opportunities to attract the broader Hawaiʻi business community to take a greater stake into the technology and growth sector within the tech startup, innovation, and manufacturing community. Read section 2.04 in the RFP document for more details.
One of the strategies that HTDC uses to fulfill its mission is sponsorship of events that promote the growth of the tech, innovation and manufacturing industry in Hawaiʻi. Events include but are not limited to conferences, seminars, hackathons, and workshops. Read section 2.04 and 2.05 in the RFP document for more details.
Sponsorship amounts can vary due to availability of funds and HTDC aligned initiatives.
We request that applications be submitted at the minimum six (6) weeks prior to the event for consideration. Applicants are encouraged to submit earlier if possible.
After committee review, notice of sponsorship award or decline will be provided by email within an estimated 3 weeks of submission of application or 6 weeks prior to the event, whichever is later. A delay in this process may also occur if there are questions about the application, missing information, or a need to discuss the request with the applicant.