TheBuzz Erika Engle

Technology trade groups tie knot

The Hawaii Technology Trade Association and the Hawaii Life Sciences Council have joined forces and adopted a new name: the Hawaii Science and Technology Council.

"It unifies the voice for science and technology," President Lisa Gibson said. It also consolidates administrative functions and expenses.

"There's not enough critical mass to have separate organizations," she said. Both organizations were involved in similar efforts, such as capital formation, work-force development and community education and outreach, she said.

The HTTA, the older of the two organizations, represented a broader array of technology companies and there was some overlap in membership with the Hawaii Life Sciences Council.

"We're looking to grow the whole industry, focusing on the key sectors that have the most possibilities (to succeed in Hawaii)," said Ann Chung, vice president for government and community relations.

Those sectors include life sciences, the energy industry, information and communications technology and the defense and dual-use industry, where companies doing research for the military also look to commercialize and license the technology they develop for other applications, such as health care, said Chung.

Controversy roils around many areas of technology, one example being the current protest against the University of Hawaii holding patents to three varieties of taro.

Chung agreed there is controversy, but said it is not a large enough problem to deter people outside the biotech industry from supporting the common goals the two organizations share.

Gibson cites the controversy as proof that "there is a significant need for an education and outreach program to explain to several different groups, whether it's Bishop Street or the Legislature or the community at large."

Gibson has previously asserted the council's commitment to being sensitive to native Hawaiian cultural concerns in its work. That will be true of the newly merged organization as well, she said.

The trend-setting pau-hana mixers for which HTTA became legendary will make a comeback. "The first couple we did, I think we had 500 people," Gibson said. This time around the mixers probably will not be monthly events.

The group also is working to develop a new Web site and has raised $500,000 in initial operating funds.

It has registered as a nonprofit corporation, as were its progenitors.