About Us
The Pacific International Center for High Technology Research (PICHTR) is an independent, not-for-profit, applied research and development center incorporated in Hawaii with an international board of directors from the United States, Asia, and the Pacific region. PICHTR is chartered to promote and develop technologies appropriate to the marine and tropical environment of the Asia-Pacific region and to assist, facilitate and support its application through technical services, education, and training.
Our purpose
Facilitation of public and private partnerships that conserve and utilize the natural resources of Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region; Advancement of sustainable development by providing timely and useful information, expertise, and training on advanced and appropriate technologies; Development and commercialization of appropriate and advanced technologies; and By working with state agencies and local, national, and international business communities for the development of the State’s economic base and infrastructure to meet its technological needs and to protect the natural environment.
Our vision
To be recognized as a center for facilitating the adoption and implementation of sustainable development practices throughout Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region, and as a leader in the region for planning, developing, evaluating, and deploying appropriate technologies.
Our mission
To advance a thriving, economically secure, environmentally-conscious future for Hawaii and the countries of the Asia-Pacific region based upon sustainable technologies, systems, and services.
What we do
Facilitate public and private partnerships that conserve and utilize the natural resources of Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region.
Support developing and commercializing clean, renewable, and advanced technologies.
Facilitate and advocate for the advancement of sustainable development by providing timely and useful information, expertise, and training on advanced and appropriate technologies.
Engage with educational partners to prototype and test technologies with students and communities.
Work with strategic partners – state agencies and local, national, and international business communities – for the development of the State’s economy and workforce.
Support local small businesses and non-profit organizations with contract administration, fiscal services, and project management.
Our fields of focus
Clean energy
A significant portion of PICHTR’s effort to develop new technologies is focused on clean energy. PICHTR is helping Hawaii meet strict state government mandates to increase the use of clean energy.
One example of PICHTR’s work in this area is the Energy Excelerator partnership with Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO). Energy storage provider Stem was granted $1 million in funding to deploy a 1-megawatt battery storage pilot to demonstrate how distributed storage can help utility companies comply with Hawaii’s mandate to utilize 100% clean energy by 2045. HECO believes distributed battery systems from providers like Stem can accelerate the integration of clean energy sources into the electric grid.
Technology
The PICHTR staff has a wealth of expertise in the commercialization of new technologies, business development, technology investment, federal initiatives, and other related aspects of bringing new technologies to market. Through mentoring, training, and commercialization assistance programs, we help companies navigate from startup to market entrance. We have helped hundreds of companies leverage government- and corporate-funded programs into successful business ventures.
Healthcare
As the U.S. population ages, healthcare is becoming an increasingly strategic issue that must be addressed. Healthcare is also an industry that aligns with PICHTR’s mission and expertise. PICHTR has supported numerous projects aimed at increasing accessibility to healthcare in Hawaii, and bringing innovative healthcare solutions to market. One of PICHTR’s most prominent healthcare efforts was the Hawaii Health Information Exchange (Hawaii HIE). It was a non-profit initiative that brought together healthcare stakeholders in Hawaii to improve healthcare delivery throughout the state through a seamless and safe health information exchange.
Resource conservation
Conserving Hawaii’s precious natural resources is critical to the future of our island home. PICHTR’s resource conservation work ranges from agriculture initiatives to endangered species protection to the maintenance of important cultural resources. Working with the U.S. Army, PICHTR has coordinated efforts to protect the habitats of native plants and animals through the Oahu Army Natural Resource Program, and provided archaeological expertise to identify and preserve historic cultural sites.
PICHTR provides funding and support for Elemental Excelerator, a growth accelerator working with innovative agriculture companies to develop biodiesel, pasture management and other farming opportunities to promote resource sustainability in Hawaii. Past agriculture initiatives include the Biosystems Technology Program and Agriculture-Based Remediation Program.
