STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3224

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 107

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology and Higher Education and the Arts, to which was referred S.R. No. 107 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO PARTNER WITH THE HAWAII STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THE HIGH TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO COMMERCIALIZE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CREATED BY BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH CONDUCTED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the University of Hawaii to partner with the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation and High Technology Development Corporation to commercialize intellectual property created by basic and applied research conducted at the University of Hawaii.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the High Technology Development Corporation and Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaii System.

     Your Committees find that one of the core functions of the University of Hawaii is to conduct basic and applied research; however, commercialization of intellectual property by the University diverts it from its educational focus on preparing and educating students.  Your Committees further find that because the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation and High Technology Development Corporation were established to promote economic development and diversification and have programs and expertise relating to the commercialization of intellectual property, a partnership between these Corporations and the University to commercialize intellectual property created from the University's basic and applied research is a logical step to encourage promotion of innovation in the State and enables the University to focus on developing a skilled workforce.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology and Higher Education and the Arts that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 107 and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology and Higher Education and the Arts,

________________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair