New UH Grant for R&D Partnerships with Hawaiʻi Technology Companies

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Keith Mattson, 808-547-5646
University Connections
Posted: Sep 24, 2002

The University of Hawaiʻi is launching a new Accelerated Research Commercialization (ARC) Grant to support collaborative research projects with Hawaii‘s technology companies. ARC will provide matching funds for selected projects designed by UH faculty and companies.

ARC‘s goals are to strengthen relationships between the local tech industry and UH researchers, leverage joint research capabilities of companies and UH, increase and improve technology transfer in Hawaiʻi, and enhance the competitiveness of local technology companies.

"ARC is an excellent way for UH to partner with Hawaiʻi‘s growing technology industry," said UH Manoa Chancellor Peter Englert.

ARC will fund new, innovative research ranging from basic research through proof-of-concept, or research on existing discoveries or inventions that significantly enhances their core technical strengths. Proposals will be accepted for research in Biotechnology, Advanced Communications, Software Development, Ocean Sciences, Sensors and Optics, Alternative Energy, and Materials Sciences. Proposals will be peer-reviewed by expert scientists from UH and other universities.

"UH has many intellectual resources that can help Hawaiʻi‘s technology companies become more competitive. ARC is a good way to encourage the type of cooperation needed for this to happen," said Dr. Edward Laws, Interim Vice-Chancellor for Research at UH Manoa.

"The places with the most success in building strong technology industries have extensive interaction between companies and research institutes," said University Connections Director Keith Mattson, who developed the ARC program. "Cooperative research grants are a great way to get that kind of interaction going."

Richard Cox, Manager of UH‘s Technology Licensing Group, thinks ARC can improve technology transfer in Hawaiʻi by providing UH with a commercialization partner at the early stages of R&D. "It‘s sometimes hard to find a good match between local companies and the inventions UH scientists make. ARC allows that match to be made," said Cox.

UH is piloting the ARC program with $150,000 in FY 2002/03. Up to $75,000 of ARC funding is available per project. Companies must match that amount, although up to half of their match can be through in kind contributions. "The initial goal is to fund a few projects with great science and excellent commercial applications," said Englert. "If there‘s enough high quality demand for these grants, perhaps the State can help expand it, as California and Georgia have done with similar programs."

The deadline for proposals is November 15, 2002. More details on the ARC program and application instructions are online at www.connections.hawaii.edu.