Honolulu Economic Development: Defense and Dual Use Technology

Hawaii has successfully converted technological innovations in the Defense Sector to commercial use.

Hawaii's economy has traditionally benefited from heavy defense spending. Today, federal defense appropriations are helping fuel productivity and economic opportunities through dual use technological innovation.

Dual use technology is the product of federally funded projects applied to civilian and commercial use. Projects for agencies such as NASA and the Departments of Defense, Commerce, and Energy have all focused on programs and facilities that not only meet national security objectives, but also have early and feasible application to civilian and commercial use.

Pacific Medical Network (PACMEDNET) is a congressionally-mandated Department of Defense automation and telecommunications project designed to prototype, validate, and live-test demonstrate clinical solutions to enrich patient encounter information.

Innovative Technical Solutions and Science & Technology International are developing remote sensing / GIS programs for developing and testing multispectral, hyperspectral and imaging radar sensors for a broad range of applications.

Center for Excellence in Research in Ocean Science (CEROS) program provides funding for Hawaii businesses in ocean related high tech projects. These projects include developing new cable designs for undersea cable crossing, developing alternative sources for fresh water from the atmosphere, developing intelligent underwater vehicles and remote sensing. Other applications include advanced ship design, microelectro-mechanical systems, wavelength division multiplexed networks and micro/millimeter wave communication systems. Hawaii is a world leader in advanced ship design and the development of underwater lifting hull technologies. As technology transfers to private companies new opportunities are created.

A number of other federally funded programs are contributing to high technology development in Hawaii:

• Pacific Missile Range Facility
• U. S. Air force
• Maui High Performance Computing Center
• Pacific Disaster Center