The Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, or HTDC, has awarded more than $2 million in grant funding to 15 Hawaii companies.
HTDC, a state agency within the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism that’s focused on building up Hawaii’s technology sector, announced the new funding last week. In a statement, HTDC said that the funding is part of the Hawaii Small Business Innovation Research program and will support the companies’ “research and development efforts toward new productions and solutions.”
“Hawaii companies are developing solutions to address important issues in food safety, health care, energy, and military support, which will have national and even international impacts,” stated Len Higashi, executive director of HTDC. “Funding these types of projects not only enables companies to bring their products to market, but it also helps to build the state’s technology ecosystem and spurs innovation.”
The Hawaii Small Business Innovation Research program provides funding for businesses that are developing new technologies, platforms, or processes. In the statement, HTDC explained that “grants are awarded in three progressive phases, with each providing more extensive funding to get innovations to market.”
Eight companies received matching grants in Phase 1, which is for projects in the early stages of development:
- Ai.Fish ($68,000)
- Hawaii Innovation Lab ($64,000)
- Hawaii Fish Company ($45,000)
- Makai Ocean Engineering ($69,931)
- Nalu Scientific ($75,000)
- PacMar Technologies ($63,000)
- Oceanit ($68,000)
- VisSidus Technologies, Inc. ($64,000)
Phase 2 matching grants are designed to accelerate the development of projects to commercialization. 11 companies were awarded matching grants:
- Experiad dba Motivity ($140,000)
- Hawaii Biotech ($150,000)
- Hawaii Fish Company ($140,000)
- HNu-Photonics ($140,000)
- Makai Ocean Engineering ($140,000)
- Minnowtech ($140,000)
- Nalu Scientific ($140,000)
- Ocean Era ($225,000)
- Oceanit ($100,00)
- Oceanic Imaging Consultants ($45,000)
- PacMar Technologies ($140,000)
