Categorized | Business, Featured

Big Isle firm scoops Governor’s Innovation Award

HR BioPetroleum's Mark Huntley, standing next to a paddle wheel at the company's Kona demonstration facility. (Photo courtesy of HR BioPetroleum)

HR BioPetroleum's Mark Huntley, standing next to a paddle wheel at the company's Kona demonstration facility. (Photo courtesy of HR BioPetroleum)

MEDIA RELEASE

A Big Island business was among three recipients this week of the Governor’s Innovation Awards, which recognize commitment to creative thinking and new ideas that result in better products, services and processes, while improving Hawaii’s future.

“Through ‘disruptive ideas,’ as one of our award winners refers to innovation, this latest group of innovators is helping us all realize the importance of looking beyond what’s always been done, and striving for how we can do things better,” Lingle said. “As these award winners demonstrate, innovation can be something as simple as using native plants to landscape our roadways, to more leading-edge development of new technologies that can restore people’s sight or generate valuable products from marine algae.”

Innovation by an Individual: Hank Wuh (www.cellularbioengineering.com)

In 2003, Hank Wuh founded Cellular Bioengineering Inc. , an Oahu-based developer of technologies with biomedical and biodefense applications. CBI searches for what Wuh calls “disruptive ideas” and “disruptive technologies” that will eventually overturn the status quo and change the future.  

Innovation by an Organization: HR BioPetroleum, Inc. (www.hrbp.com)

HRBP is a Big Island-based renewable energy technology company focused on utilizing marine microalgae to produce biofuel feedstocks and other valuable products. The company developed a proprietary process called ALDUO technology that leverages the photosynthetic power and rapid growth characteristics of microalgae to convert sunlight, CO2, and other nutrients into inexpensive vegetable oils and biomass.

Innovation in Government: Department of Transportation Highways Division (http://hawaii.gov/dot)

The state Department of Transportation has been working with plant specialists at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa to address cost-efficient and environmentally friendly ways to landscape Hawaii’s roadways. Through this partnership, the Highways Division has been successful in planting native groundcover along bare areas of state roadways instead of nonnative Bermuda grass that has been p

Lingle initiated the monthly Innovation Awards in May 2008 to acknowledge and encourage innovation across all sectors statewide.  The awards recognize deserving individuals, companies, nonprofits, organizations and government agencies that are developing innovative products, services and processes.

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