Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University has been awarded $450,000 through the New Mexico Entrepreneurship Programmatic Support Grant, administered by the New Mexico Economic Development Department's Technology and Innovation Office. The funding will support the continuation and expansion of NM FAST, Arrowhead's statewide assistance program helping startups compete for federal Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer awards. 

The 12-month award will strengthen New Mexico's innovation pipeline by providing no-cost technical assistance, commercialization training, and proposal development support to startups across the state. Programming will focus on priority sectors, including advanced computing, bioscience, advanced energy, and aerospace, aligning with New Mexico's broader technology and innovation strategy.

Through NM FAST, Arrowhead Center delivers a comprehensive suite of services designed to help founders successfully compete for federal research and development funding. These services include SBIR/STTR workshops, SBIR 101 webinars, multi-week accelerator cohorts, one-on-one proposal reviews, microgrants, commercialization mentorship, and targeted outreach to rural and underserved entrepreneurs. The program also works in partnership with commercialization experts and regional innovation organizations to ensure startups have access to the resources necessary to move innovative technologies from research to market. 

"This investment ensures that innovators across New Mexico—from Las Cruces and Albuquerque to Los Alamos and rural communities—have access to the expertise and resources needed to compete nationally for federal R&D funding," said Carlos Murguia, director of the Technology and Innovation Gateway at Arrowhead Center. "Through NM FAST, Arrowhead Center is helping build a stronger pipeline of high-growth technology companies and accelerating the commercialization of research emerging from our region." 

By helping New Mexico companies compete for federal innovation funding, the program supports technology commercialization, startup formation, and the creation of high-quality jobs, strengthening the state's innovation-driven economy. 

Over the past decade, NM FAST has supported hundreds of startups and helped New Mexico companies secure millions of dollars in federal SBIR/STTR awards. The EPS grant will provide continuity of services, expand commercialization support between Phase I and Phase II, and increase outreach to first-time applicants. 

Over the past decade, NM FAST has supported hundreds of startups across New Mexico, helping companies secure millions of dollars in federal SBIR/STTR awards. The new EPS grant will allow Arrowhead Center to expand commercialization support between Phase I and Phase II awards, increase outreach to first-time applicants, and further strengthen the state's participation in federal innovation programs. 

Detailed programming announcements, including workshop schedules, accelerator dates, and application opportunities, will be released in the coming weeks. 

For more information about NM FAST and upcoming programming, visit: https://arrowheadcenter.nmsu.edu/program/nm-fast/index.html.  

The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/nmsu-s-arrowhead-center-awarded--450-000-to-expand-statewide-innovation-support/s/cc40632c-266c-4f9c-94be-116fb1b8badd