The presence of three national laboratories, three research universities, state-supported programs, and incentives for technology-based businesses in New Mexico has created a nurturing environment for technology commercialization in the state. Technology can be licensed from The Airforce Research Laboratory, Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories as well as from the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, and New Mexico Tech through their corresponding technology transfer offices which are described below.
New Mexico's technological strengths include:
Programs that support development of technology are available in the state. These programs provide entrepreneurs the expertise of laboratory researchers and scientists,access to capital, and facilities. Available programs also offer quality control and manufacturing assistance. Finally, state tax credits have been established to promote the use of New Mexico's technology resources by incentivizing in-state R&D activities and investment.
Technology can be licensed through national laboratories and universities in the state. See below for a description of each insitution and their specialties.
Sandia National Laboratories is a world-class research and development community that delivers on national security missions while advancing the frontiers of science and engineering.
SNL has core capabilities in 4 broad areas:
Active collaborations with other government agencies, industry, and academic institutions provide support to these areas of research and strengthen the activities of SNL’s 7 research foundations:
Interaction with academic and business leaders aims to transform essential research and discovery activities into invention, innovation, entrepreneurship, economic opportunity and public benefit. One of the ways this manifests is in SNL’s 22 Technology Deployment Centers. For information on licensing technology from SNL, visit the Licensing and Technology Transfer Department.
LANL’s mission is to solve national security challenges through scientific excellence. LANL’s focuses on the following cross disciplinary areas:
Basic and applied areas of research and expertise encompass the following science programs.
Contact the Richard P. Feynman Center for Innovation for more information on licensing technology from LANL.
AFRL at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque operates two of the Air Force’s seven technical directorates: Directed Energy and Space Vehicles.
The Directed Energy Directorate is the Air Force's center of expertise for directed energy and optical technologies, with a focus in four core technical competencies:
The Space Vehicles Directorate is comprised of three distinct divisions:
For more information on technology from AFRL, contact their Tech Engagement Team.
The University of New Mexico (UNM) has Research Centers and Institutes including:
Intellectual property and technology commercialization is facilitated by STC.UNM.
New Mexico State University (NMSU) conducts research in nine areas:
To learn more about licensing technologies, contact the Arrowhead Center.
NMT is a nationally-recognized research university with the following research departments:
Contact the Center for Leadership in Technology Commercialization for tech transfer opportunities.
Technology business owners will find valuable resources and programs available in New Mexico. Below are some that relate to research and development, manufacturing, product testing, and more. They are designed to allow technology entrepreneurs access to and collaboration with the top science and technology experts in the state.
New Mexico Programs Supporting Technology Transfer
Sources of Available Funding:
This grant is to encourage the acceleration of the commercialization of New Mexico innovation and technologies developed with federal SBIR funds. Eligible companies with a Phase I award can receive a 50% match up to $50,000. Companies with a Phase II award can receive up to a $100,000 match. Matching funds are to be used for business development and other tasks complimentary to but not eligible under federal SBIR award guidelines. This includes marketing costs, technology validation, patent filings, and prototype development.
The New Mexico Small Business Assistance (NMSBA) Program offers assistance to New Mexico small businesses with a technical challenge that requires special expertise can "borrow" scientists or engineers from Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories. Such projects include testing, design consultation, and access to special equipment or facilities.
Other types of technical assistance may be provided through the New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NMMEP), the Center for Support of Economic Development (CSED) Small Business Assistance Program at UNM Anderson School of Management (offered through the Management of Technology [MOT] concentration), the Department of Management at New Mexico Tech, and the Arrowhead Technology Incubator at New Mexico State University.
Small businesses located in Bernalillo County can receive up to $10,000 in technical assistance per year, while businesses in all other New Mexico counties can receive up to $20,000. The small business must be for-profit, located in New Mexico, U.S.-owned and operated, and must pay gross receipts tax to the State of New Mexico.
The NMSBA Program is made possible by a $2.4 million state tax credit to Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories.
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NMMEP is an assistance center that works toward increasing NM small and mid-sized companies’ competitiveness. Areas of expertise include: results-driven methodologies, best practices, and innovative technologies designed to increase profitability. They offer comprehensive programs and services in collaboration with government, not-for-profit, and industry resources.
CINT is a national user facility devoted to establishing the scientific principles that govern the design, performance, and integration of nanoscale materials. The Center is jointly operated by Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories, with the Core Facility located at Sandia, and the Gateway Facility located at Los Alamos.
CINT focuses on four scientific areas:
The New Mexico Consortium (NMC) was established to strengthen research that is in the national interest and to increase the role of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in science, education, and regional economic development. A nonprofit formed by the three New Mexico research universities, NMC promotes collaboration among academia, industry, and research.
NMC’s science initiatives include:
NMC takes pride in the following core capabilities:
The Venture Acceleration Fund (VAF), a division of Los Alamos Connect, offers new technology-based and manufacturing companies the chance to compete for funding. The VAF targets companies who are too new for bank loans and too early for equity financing to gain traction and contribute to New Mexico’s economy.
STC.UNM, along with the UNM Foundation, established the STC.UNM Co-Investment Fund to further the commercialization of UNM-based technologies. The $1 million fund awards investment to companies utilizing UNM technologies, which are then matched with outside capital from venture capitalists or angel investors. Funding is generally given to companies heading into a next stage in development.
New Mexico Innovation Vouchers are small monthly competitive grants which enable early stage science or technology companies to overcome discrete barriers to reaching market potential. These grants offset costs for services offered by approved economic development assets and programs. Applicants must be science or technology companies affiliated with an approved program. Up to two awards for $2,000 each will be made each month.
The Catalyst Fund is a $20 million fund-of-funds created to increase seed and early-stage investment in New Mexico. As a fund-of-funds the Catalyst Fund will invest in existing and emerging portfolio funds. These portfolio funds in-turn will raise a matching $20 million in private equity making $40 million available for investment in local startups. The Catalyst Fund is expected to support more than 50 companies in New Mexico and will focus on technology startups.
NM FAST offers eligible small businesses assistance with funding efforts through the federal SBIR and STTER programs. NM FAST works with companies to assemble a team of advocates to help evaluate the feasibility of SBIR and STTR applications and assist companies in applying for a SBIR or STTR award.
NCGR is a 501c(3) nonprofit research institute that applies bioinformatics, software engineering and next-generation sequencing to solve the preeminent challenges of 21st century biology through collaborative research and services. Equipped with Illumina and PacBio instrumentation, our sequencing capabilities include genome, transcriptome, ChIP, small RNA, and exome sequencing, with corresponding analytical capabilities. NCGR provides researchers with experimental design assistance, custom data analysis, and data visualization. Independently and in partnership with other science and technology leaders, NCGR is dedicated to ensuring the health and food security of future generations
New Mexico realizes the potential of technology-based companies by offering incentives for entrepreneurs to build their businesses here in the state.
Administered by the NM Taxation & Revenue Department.
A taxpayer who conducts qualified research and development at a facility in New Mexico is allowed a basic tax credit equal to four percent (4%) of qualified expenditures, and an additional four percent (4%) credit toward income tax liability by raising its in-state payroll $75,000 for every $1 million in qualified expenditures claimed. The tax credit doubles for expenditures in facilities located in rural New Mexico (as defined for this tax credit as anywhere outside Rio Rancho or more than 3 miles outside Bernalillo, Dona Ana, San Juan or Santa Fe counties).
The taxpayer claims the credit within one year following the end of the year in which the expenditure was made. The credit amount is applied against the taxpayer’s state gross receipts, compensating and withholding liabilities until the credit is exhausted.
Eligible Uses
Download Application and Claim Form: Technology Jobs
Administered by NM Economic Development Department.
A taxpayer who files a New Mexico income tax return and who is a “qualified investor” may take a tax credit of up to $25,000 (25% of a qualified investment of not more than $100,000) for an investment made in a New Mexico company that is engaging in high-technology research or manufacturing. The taxpayer may claim the angel investment credit for up to two qualified investments in a taxable year, provided that each investment is in a different qualified business. Any portion of the tax credit remaining unused at the end of the taxpayer’s taxable year may be carried forward for three consecutive years.
Download information and claim form: Angel Investment Tax Credit Overview 2017