Hawai‘i Innovation Assets Report
This report was commissioned by the Hawai‘i Business Roundtable to identify key innovation assets in the State of Hawai‘i and stimulate dialogue among its stakeholders as they work to grow Hawaii’s innovation economy. Hawai‘i Business Roundtable seeks to recognize and nurture existing resources and talent to help develop an innovation-based economy.
This report also discusses the growth of San Diego’s innovation economy in the 1980s, a possible model for Hawai‘i. At the time, San Diego’s economy resembled Hawaii’s today, relying on tourism and the military sector. However, the end of the Cold War led to a decline in military spending, and San Diego faced increased competition in tourism.
In response, clusters around innovative technologies formed, driven by research from UC San Diego. These clusters, including wireless communications technology and biotechnology, grew significantly over two decades. San Diego witnessed the emergence of industry trade organizations, accelerators, and capital investors supporting these sectors.
