This Wednesday through Friday, Feb. 25 to 27, Honolulu is set to host the third Pacific Alliance for Collaboration and Technology, known as PACT, at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i. Organizers say the three-day program will bring government officials, startup founders, and defense contractors into the same rooms to focus on data sharing, dual-use technologies, and public-private pathways that aim to strengthen resilience across the Indo-Pacific. Instead of endless podium speeches, the conference is promising hands-on sessions and smaller working groups meant to push commercial technologies into regional security and climate applications.
As reported by Hawaii News Now, PICHTR leaders Ian Kitajima and Keith Matsumoto appeared on the station’s Sunrise program to preview the event and explain the nonprofit’s role. Kitajima told the outlet that “PICHTR was established in 1985 under President Ronald Reagan” and pointed to the group’s history of incubating dual-use projects. The Hawaii News Now segment also notes PICHTR’s past work spinning out accelerators and managing INDOPACOM-focused programs backed by both U.S. and Japanese partners.
What the agenda looks like
The agenda centers on interoperable data sharing and “whole of society” solutions for natural and human made disasters, according to PICHTR. Sessions are slated to include a solutions showcase, contracting and teaming panels, design sprints and a proving grounds track that is intended to move technologies from simple demonstrations toward real world fielding. Organizers say PACT deliberately keeps attendance tight so allied militaries, commercial vendors and private capital can hash out problems directly instead of getting lost in a convention hall crowd.
Startups, Japan ties and contracts
Hawaii News Now notes that J-StarX alumni, including VFR, AirKamuy and Diarkis, have already moved into defense markets, with two of those alumni landing in DIU’s Drone Dominance top 25. Those connections underline the conference’s dual use pitch, where technologies that can help with civilian climate or disaster response are also aimed at military sustainment or domain awareness missions.
Local pipeline and sustainment
Organizers say the event is also meant to spotlight contract pathways for Hawai‘i companies. In a PICHTR release, the nonprofit announced a strategic partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Depot Maintenance Command to support Indo Pacific sustainment and advanced manufacturing. The July 2025 release describes task orders and a framework that would use MDMC infrastructure for prototyping and depot level work across the region, a relationship PICHTR officials say creates new teaming opportunities for local firms. PICHTR runs incubation and contract administration programs that organizers hope will help island startups pivot into federal supply chains.
Organizers add that space is limited and say the format is built to produce follow on acquisitions and pilot projects rather than a parade of keynotes. For local entrepreneurs and defense adjacent contractors, PACT is being pitched as a rare, up close path to partner with allied governments and private funders. The expectation is that working sessions will seed teaming proposals that could move into contract territory later this year.
