The Hawaiʻi Business Roundtable and the University of Hawaiʻi will be hosting the first-ever Future Focus: The Hawaiʻi Innovation Initiative’s Forum on Energy, Cybersecurity and More on September 23–24 at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. The day-and-a-half forum will feature presentations, interactive panel discussions, “poolside chats,” workshops and one-on-one sessions. There will also be a networking reception, offering attendees opportunities to learn more about emerging technologies, federal resources and ways to engage in and contribute to Hawaiʻi’s growing innovation and technology sector.
In addition to the forum’s keynote speakers, the event will also feature speakers from the National Security Agency, U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Department of Energy, Small Business Administration’s Office of Investment and Innovation, U.S. Economic Development Administration Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, among others.
For a list of speakers and the agenda go to the Future Focus website.
“The inaugural Future Focus Forum will bring together some of the top experts in innovation, technology and research from Hawaiʻi, across the country and internationally,” said Bob Harrison, Hawaiʻi Business Roundtable chairman and president and CEO of First Hawaiian Bank. “This event offers an opportunity to engage in and support an emerging industry that creates high-quality jobs, stimulates economic development, business partnerships, and enhances the quality of life in Hawaiʻi.”
University of Hawaiʻi President David Lassner added, “The strength of our research sector impacts many other business sectors. Through our Hawaiʻi Innovation Initiative partnership with the Hawaiʻi Business Roundtable, efforts like the Future Focus forum will help us to enhance the knowledge and expertise of our research and technology industries as we address the challenges and opportunities facing our state and the world.”
The registration fee for the forum is $95 and includes continental breakfast on both days and lunch and a reception on the first day. For more information and to register, visit the Future Focus: The Hawaiʻi Innovation Initiative’s Forum website.
—By Kapiʻolani Ching
