Monthly news, events & updates |
Building a Rainforest in the Desert | July 2021 |
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UNM Rainforest Innovations Welcomes Returning Staff Member |
Chief Financial Officer
Kyung Salazar re-joined UNM Rainforest Innovations as the Chief Financial Officer in June 2021. She manages the financial, administration, and IT operations and numerous special projects. She had first joined UNM Rainforest Innovations in 2001.
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UNM Startup Pajarito Powder Raises $9.4 Million Investment |
Pajarito Powder LLC, an Albuquerque startup commercializing technology developed at the University of New Mexico and LANL, disclosed a new $9.4 million investment round. The company filed a Form D with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and noted there were a total of 24 investors. Pajarito Powder manufactures advanced catalysts for PEM and alkaline fuel cells and electrolyzers. Their materials feature greater durability and stability over the lifetime of the fuel cell stack. This month the company was also selected as a recipient of the Science & Technology Business Start Up Grants from the New Mexico Economic Development Department.
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Special Technology Showcase Featured Women Innovators from UNM |
On June 8, UNM Rainforest Innovations, in partnership with the New Mexico Technology Council, hosted a special Technology Showcase – Women in Technology Edition featuring women innovators from the University of New Mexico.
The event featured six University of New Mexico women innovators presenting life-science and physical-science technologies available for commercialization. The event started with an introduction from UNM Rainforest Innovations’ CEO & Chief Economic Development Officer Lisa Kuuttila and opening remarks were given by Deborah Breitfield, Executive Director of the New Mexico Technology Council.
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Three UNM Startups Receive Funding from the State |
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Last week the Economic Development Department announced the recipients of the Science & Technology Business Start Up Grants. Three of the grants were awarded to UNM technology-based startup companies, including Avisa Diagnostics USA, Inc., Osazda Energy, and Pajarito Powder. These grants are available to New Mexico-based, for-profit science and technology companies in aerospace, biosciences, cybersecurity, intelligent manufacturing, and sustainable and green energy. There were 56 applicants for the grants and only five were selected.
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The University of New Mexico is Among Top 100 Worldwide Institutions Granted U.S. Utility Patents in 2020 |
The University of New Mexico (UNM) is among the Top 100 Worldwide Universities granted U.S. utility patents in 2020, according to a report published by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) and Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO). The rankings are compiled by calculating the number of utility patents granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that list a university as the first assignee on the issued patent.
This annual report has been published by the NAI and IPO since 2013 to highlight the important role patents play in research and innovation and to enhance the visibility of technology and innovation coming out of universities. The report ranks the University of New Mexico 86th among the top 100 for the number of issued U.S. utility patents received in the 2020 calendar year for its inventions.
“This marks the 9th year that the University of New Mexico has been ranked on this list,” said Lisa Kuuttila, CEO and Chief Economic Development Officer of UNM Rainforest Innovations, the university’s technology-transfer and economic-development organization.
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Entrepreneurial Capabilities Certificate Recipient Finds Opportunity in The New Mexico Rainforest |
When it comes to entrepreneurship and university economic development programs, the goal is to cultivate a mindset that drives students not only to get a job, but to create them.
Entrepreneurship is no small feat. It requires drive, discipline, risk and the ability to seize opportunity. Entrepreneurs are not afraid to fail and are usually those who reach out for help, utilizing the people and resources around them to learn, grow and succeed. This is the case when it comes to former UNM student and Entrepreneurial Capabilities Certificate recipient Christian Slough (CJ).
Most recently, through connections made within the NM Rainforest Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, CJ has started a position in sales and marketing for the New Mexico startup company Build with Robots, who builds turn-key robotic solutions that enable the world’s workforce to be healthier, more productive and more fulfilled.
Over the past year, CJ has learned and benefitted from the multitude of opportunities provided through the NM Rainforest University Center and the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Albuquerque. As he reflects, he states:
“One thing I’ve learned is that there are so many resources here in New Mexico and through UNM, it’s just a matter of letting yourself be vulnerable, going to mentoring office hours, reaching out via email and not being afraid to ask questions or reach out for help.”
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In the Spotlight - Featured UNM Inventor |
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Steven B. Bradfute, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Internal Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases
Center for Global Health
The University of New Mexico
Dr. Bradfute’s research areas include immunity, therapeutics, diagnostics, and vaccine development for emerging and re-emerging viral pathogens.
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Student Interns @ UNM Rainforest Innovations |
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Sheyla Miramonte
Innovation Student Intern
Our featured intern this month is Sheyla Miramontes, who joined UNM Rainforest Innovations as an Innovation Student Intern in 2020. In addition to learning about technology transfer, some of her duties include drafting non-confidential summaries for technologies, creating mailing campaigns, and conducting novelty searches for technologies. When she accepted the position, she didn’t know very much about tech-transfer. “For me, learning about technology transfer has been the most valuable thing I have gotten out of this position. Prior to this position I didn’t have any knowledge of how technologies were transferred to the marketplace. Now it is a career that I could consider going into in the future.”
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Lobo Rainforest I-Corps Site at UNM
Accepting Applications for Fall 2021 Cohort
Receive Entrepreneurial Training, Mentoring & $3,000!
Do you have an idea for a technology? Explore the transition of your technology to the marketplace through this entrepreneurial training program to help determine if your technology is ready for the market. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), this program’s purpose is to teach UNM faculty and students to identify market or product opportunities that can emerge from academic research or student ideas.
Program Details:
The online program will run on Mondays, 4:30 - 6:00p.m. from October 4, 2021 – December 13, 2021 online via Zoom meetings.
Deadline to apply to the Fall 2021 I-Corps program is September 26, 2021
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Attend Upcoming Virtual Open Office Hours Providing Mentoring for Your Startup/Idea
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Mr. Stacy Sacco teaches entrepreneurial studies at the Anderson School of Management, serves as the Director of the UNM Small Business Institute and is President of Sacco Connections, a management consulting firm.
Mr. Sacco will be available for one-on-one mentoring where he will give guidance, coaching and perspective to enhance entrepreneurship and provide connections to resources at UNM and in the community. There are many resources available to those who have ideas that they may want to turn into a business!
Upcoming Rainforest Mentoring Office Hours:
June 23, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (MDT)
These are virtual office hours, click Sign Up below to select the time frame you plan to attend and a Zoom link will be emailed to you.
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How to Grow & Promote Your Business Using YouTube
NM Rainforest Webinar
Presented by Julianna Martinez-Barbee
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August 26 | 10-11 a.m. (MDT) | Online via Zoom
Join us for this special YouTube Video Promotional Training where you will learn how to use YouTube videos as a tool to help grow and promote your small business.
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Advanced Economic Development Leadership Program - Fall 2021 Cohort
Register early. Space is limited!
The Advanced Economic Development Leadership (AEDL) executive education program is one-of-a-kind, with applicants needing five years professional economic development experience and completion of a basic certificate. The program is online and will provide an engaging and immersive experience. Apply now to reserve your spot for the next two-week learning experience that is becoming the standard for advanced EcD training. All economic developers who successfully complete the program earn an Economic Development Master Practitioner diploma from the four partner universities.
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Week One
November 8-11, 2021
Kauffman Conference Center
Kansas City, MO
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Week Two
May 16-19, 2022
The University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Park Campus
Long Beach, MS
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UNM Rainforest Innovations | Website
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