EDD to launch two new science and tech grant opportunities

Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 14 September 2023 14 September 2023

Awards will focus on advanced energy and higher education teams

SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico Economic Development Department Deputy Secretary Jon Clark announced on Thursday that the department’s Office of Strategy, Science & Technology (OSST) will launch two new grant opportunities this fall, focused on driving technology growth and commercialization in advanced energy and encouraging innovation and commercialization in higher education.

Speaking at the “Building an Advanced Energy Ecosystem in New Mexico” conference in Albuquerque, Clark announced that the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) will partner with University of New Mexico Rainforest Innovations to launch an advanced energy award pilot program for New Mexico-based companies, as well as a pilot grant program to teams from New Mexico research universities.

“New Mexico has a history of energy innovation,” Deputy Secretary Clark said. “Today’s partnership between EDD, our research universities, and our federal labs will create new opportunities for entrepreneurs in the state to grow and thrive. These new investments from our Office of Strategy, Science & Technology will build on our position as a state at the forefront of innovation and bring even more high-paying jobs to residents across our state.”

The advanced energy award pilot program will award non-dilutive grant funds to New Mexico companies with proposals in advanced energy science and technology. Considered proposals will be those that demonstrate the potential to develop or advance a unique product or service in the advanced energy field, commonly defined as technology and innovation that makes energy use cleaner, safer, more secure, and more reliable. Selected applicants will be awarded grants to fill identified funding gaps between $250,000 and $1,000,000.

The R1 university team pitch award pilot program will award non-dilutive grant funding and entrepreneurship assistance to science and technology commercialization projects from faculty/student teams at New Mexico research universities. Eligible projects will demonstrate a potential to result in the formation of a New Mexico-based company with a near-term plan to bring a unique product or service to market. Proposals will be submitted by teams comprised of at least one faculty member and one student from New Mexico State University, the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, or the University of New Mexico. Grants between $100,000 to $200,000 will be awarded, in addition to entrepreneurship consultant services.

Applications will be reviewed by the New Mexico Technology Research Collaborative Board, which works to promote the commercialization of technologies born in New Mexico and support science and technology entrepreneurs in the state. EDD will partner with UNM Rainforest Innovations to deploy award funds and support homegrown science and technology growth by building on their existing and successful spring pitch fest infrastructure. Selected applicants will be invited to present live at the 2024 event in May, where final proposals will be judged and winners will be announced.

“UNM Rainforest Innovations is excited to partner with EDD on these two important initiatives,” Elizabeth J. Kuuttila, President and Chief Economic Development Officer for UNM Rainforest Innovations, said. “EDD is continuing to grow the New Mexico entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing opportunities for more science & technology assets and ideas to be developed.”

The two new grant opportunities will build on two existing OSST grant programs, the Science and Technology Business Startup Grant and the SBIR/STTR Matching Grant, which award funds for business development expenses to New Mexico-based science and technology businesses. The new awards will be funded by appropriations made in the 2023 legislative session to EDD for advanced energy projects and to support entrepreneurship and innovation.

Additional details and application information for the new pilot grant programs will be released in October.

Questions can be directed to Nora Meyers Sackett at nora.sackett@edd.nm.gov.

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.