In January, Governor Linda Lingle announced a comprehensive new Innovation Initiative for Hawaii, designed to create a firm economic foundation in the new global economy. These five interrelated policy components in the upcoming legislative session and over 20 different initiatives in the plan focus on Innovation in Education, Innovation in the Economy, Innovation in the Workplace, Innovation in Linking Hawaii to the Global Economy, and Innovation in State Government.

The Administration 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 in Education package strongly aims to improve Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills in Hawaii 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 Hawaii 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, including engaging middle school students with math, science, engineering, problem-solving, and teamwork concepts in a project-based contextual learning environment (i.e., Robotics) and Tuition Edge Enhancement tax breaks for families to encourage savings for higher education. Also included are professional development opportunities for teachers to gain additional STEM training and be informed of the latest advances in technology and science.

Other proposed new Innovation Economy projects include a State support for a life sciences and biotech research facility and technology incubator in Kakaako; 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 Hawaii’s artists in the music industry; and a $100 million professionally-managed Hawaii Innovation Fund.

The package also seeks to upgrade the skills of people already in the workforce by encouraging and providing financial incentives for lifelong learning, in the Innovation in Workforce Development Component, as well as expanding the links between Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region in the Innovation in Linking Hawaii to the Global Economy component.

Finally, Governor Lingle will call on State government to lead innovation by example by improving efficiencies and productivity in the Innovation in State Government component. These include all state permitting to be online by 2010, upgrading state functions through a paperless network, expanding wireless broadband service on all islands and offering free Internet service in public areas of state buildings, libraries, and schools. This is the only component that does not require legislation.

On February 16, the four major bills of the Innovation Initiative met a key legislative deadline called the First Lateral, when they had to move to their final referral committee.