GOVERNOR LINGLE ANNOUNCES HAWAI’I INNOVATION INITIATIVE

— filed under: Innovation Initiative

NASA DONATES $1,000,000 TO HOLD YEARLY ROBOTICS COMPETITION

For Immediate Release: January 12, 2007

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today announced a comprehensive new Innovation Initiative for Hawai‘i, designed to create a firm economic foundation in the new global economy.

“Hawai‘i’s continued prosperity and ability to improve our standard of living and way of life over the long-term requires reducing our dependence on land as the chief driver of economic development,” said Governor Lingle. “We need to focus on developing our people, recognizing that our future economic success and sustainability depends upon innovation and new ideas that will enable us to create more high-paying quality jobs that capitalize on people’s skills and talents.”

The Governor outlined a set of five interrelated policy components that she plans to introduce in the upcoming legislative session. There are over 20 different initiatives in the plan that focus on Innovation in Education, Innovation in the Economy, Innovation in the Workplace, Innovation in Linking Hawai‘i to the Global Economy, and Innovation in State Government.

The Administration has included $30 million over two years in its proposed biennium budget to fund the innovation initiatives. The funds will be leveraged with existing programs in state government, universities and the private sector.

The Innovation package places a strong emphasis on improving Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills in Hawai‘i students, beginning in middle schools and continuing through college.

“These disciplines – science, technology, engineering and math – provide people with skills and knowledge to think in a more analytical and critical fashion that can be applied to a broad diversity of occupations,” said Governor Lingle. “Our goal is to create a citizenry that will help make Hawai‘i competitive and successful in the global economy.”

The proposals include providing incentives for families to make STEM education and career choices a priority for their children.

Among the ideas being proposed are four-year college scholarships for students graduating through the STEM curriculum and going on to a STEM discipline at a local university, and Tuition Edge Enhancement tax breaks for families (deduction of $10,000 on state tax returns for single filers and $20,000 for dual filers) to encourage savings for higher education.

Also included in the Administration’s proposed initiatives are opportunities for teachers to gain additional STEM training in order to keep abreast of the latest technological and scientific advances. The Governor also proposes recruiting additional distinguished faculty chairs in STEM disciplines at local universities through a State match of private sector endowments.

As part of the effort to enhance STEM skills in Hawai‘i students, the Governor also announced she has secured a commitment from NASA for $1 million to hold a regional competition of the FIRST Robotics Competition in Hawai‘i for four years, beginning in the Spring of 2008. The Robotics Competition features teams from across the U.S., Asia, Canada and other parts of the world who use their imagination, creativity, ingenuity and STEM skills to build robots and solve an engineering challenge.

The Governor earlier this month participated in the FIRST Robotics competition kick off in Manchester, New Hampshire. Four teams from Hawai‘i are participating in this year’s Robotics Competition: Waialua, McKinley, Waiakea and Punahou.

Other proposed new Innovation Economy projects include:

State support for a life sciences and biotech research facility and technology incubator in Kaka‘ako.
A digital media center for the development of a local film and digital media sector.
A new program based on the successful “Nashville” model from Belmont University Center (MELE—Music Enterprise Learning Experience) to build the technical and business skills of Hawai‘i’s artists in the music industry.
A $100 million professionally-managed Hawai‘i Innovation Fund.

The package also addresses upgrading the skills of people already in the workforce by encouraging and providing financial incentives for lifelong learning, as well as expanding the links between Hawai’i and the Asia Pacific region.

Finally, Governor Lingle will call on State government to lead innovation by example by improving government efficiencies and productivity. These include all state permitting to be online by the year 2010, upgrade state functions through a digital paperless network, expanding wireless broadband service on all islands and offer free internet service in public areas of state buildings, libraries, and schools.

“Innovation has played a major role in Hawai‘i’s history,” the Governor added. “From the earliest Polynesian voyagers who used innovation to navigate their way over thousands of miles of open ocean, to later immigrants who transformed these islands into a Pacific trading hub. Hawai‘i’s early innovators also found new ways of farming, fishing, and creating one of the world’s most desired destinations.”

The Governor invited the education and business communities to contribute additional ideas to the program, and asked the State’s legislative leadership to join the Innovation & Sustainability Initiative.

“This truly is a bipartisan effort,” she said. “It is not about political agendas, it is about the future of our Hawai‘i. I am asking for cooperation and collaboration from all sectors of our community to implement our vision with their ideas, their support and their thoughtful insights.”

Sections

GOVERNOR LINGLE ANNOUNCES HAWAI’I INNOVATION INITIATIVE

Document Actions