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 was created in 1983 under the Twelfth Legislature, Act 152 (Senate Bill # 1062, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D.1). The Act established PICHTR as an educational and research institution placed within the University of Hawaii for administrative purposes as provided for under Section 3, Chapter 304, Hawaii Revised Statutes section 26-35. It also stated that PICHTR may later incorporate as a nonprofit corporation. In 1985, PICHTR was chartered by the State of Hawaii as a private 501(c)3 not for profit corporation, to be operated in the public interest by a self—perpetuating independent board of trustees as an educational and research institution. At the news conference announcing the incorporation of PICHTR a news release issued from Governor George Ariyoshi’s office stated that PICHTR will “focus on concerns and opportunities relevant to the Pacific region and promote international cooperation and development in high technology”.
PICHTR as a contract research organization carries out applied technical work, consistent with its purpose and charter, under research grants and contracts from clients and sponsors.
PICHTR is chartered to promote and develop technology 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. Much of our major project work is related to the applied research and development of renewable energy technology which is crucial to the sustainable development of the region and for which Hawaii is uniquely qualified through its rich human and natural resources. PICHTR also has resources to support environmental planning and remediation activities which further enhance sustainable systems development. PICHTR’s research areas are energy and resource technology, biotechnology, and administrative services (government contracting).
Opportunities for PICHTR:
(a) The need of the developing countries of the Pacific for help in meeting
their energy needs and addressing their environmental concerns.
(b) Washington’s recognition of the increasing importance of the Pacific to
the future of the US.
(c) The pressure on the federal research and development to turn their
attention to the global issues of energy and environmental concerns and
technological
competitiveness.
(d) The emergence of sustainable development and “technology for a sustainable
future” as government priorities.
