New Mexico Tech’s technology transfer office, Center for Technology Commercialization, secured a $100,000 grant from energy company Emera on Tuesday to help spur entrepreneurship at the institution and around New Mexico.
The cash will back internal pre-seed projects and encourage links between the university and the wider New Mexico startup ecosystem. The office also hopes to expand its engagement with university personnel and hold more intellectual property (IP) seminars.
Emera’s funding comes from a $5m economic development vehicle for New Mexico launched in 2016 after Emera acquired local gas supplier New Mexico Gas Company. Some 28 New Mexico-based bodies are expected to have shared $1m from the fund in 2017.
Recipients of financing include Innovate ABQ, a public-private partnership backed by University of New Mexico that has received $500,000 for its entrepreneurial zone in Albuquerque.
Stephen Wells, president of New Mexico Tech, said: “We will continue to work with on-campus researchers to develop marketable IP, in many cases in partnership with student research teams.”
“It is my hope that this is the beginning of a long-term, mutually-beneficial partnership that will be instrumental in allowing Tech’s best and brightest to flourish while growing New Mexico’s economic infrastructure in the process.”
