May 22, 2019

Innovate New Mexico® Sixth Showcasing Event for Investors and Industry Features State’s Research Innovations

Innovate New Mexico, a network of the state’s seven leading technology-transfer organizations, held its annual spring event showcasing innovative technologies from the state’s research universities and national labs on May 7, 2019.

The showcase—the organization’s sixth gathering—was held at Sandia Golf Club in Albuquerque and featured 11 technology pitches by inventors from the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, Sandia National Labs, Los Alamos National Lab, the Air Force Research Labs, and new member NASA Technology Transfer & Commercialization Office to a crowd of approximately 125 investors, entrepreneurs, industry reps, and local business members.

The day’s events included welcoming remarks from Jon Clark, deputy secretary of the NM Economic Development Department and keynote remarks from Mara Aspinall, co-founder and managing director of BlueStone Venture Partners, LLC. 

Ms. Aspinall, also a member of the AZBio Board of Directors and President & CEO of Health Catalysts, is a healthcare industry leader and pioneer in medical diagnostics and in educating payers and policymakers on genomics and personalized medicine. She is the former President & CEO of Ventana Medical Systems, a division of The Roche Group, leading development and commercialization of tissue-based cancer diagnostics and digital imaging, and former President of Genzyme Genetics and Genzyme Pharmaceuticals, the former sold to LabCorp for $1 billion in 2010. 

BlueStone Venture Partners is a premier venture firm that invests in life-science technologies and companies in the Southwest and Health Catalysts invests and advises early-stage life-science companies focused on health information technology and diagnostics.  Ms. Aspinall received the Arizona Biosciences Leader of the Year Award in 2016 from the Arizona Biotechnology Association and was named a “100 Most Inspiring People in Life Sciences” by PharmaVOICE magazine.

Ms. Aspinall’s remarks, entitled “How the Fourth Industrial Revolution Is Changing Our World: Healthcare & Beyond,” focused on how healthcare will be changed by what has been termed the 4th Industrial Revolution.  This stage of economic development, preceded by urbanization (1st IR), factory automation (2nd IR), and computerization/digital (3rd IR), concerns integrating and connecting physical and biological systems into the digital age.  Ms. Aspinall stated that the 4th IR is focused on healthcare and is having its greatest impact on precision medicine. 

Investor and startup-company formation trends dominate the digital healthcare market.  Funding has grown from $1.1 billion to $8.1 billion between 2011 and 2018.  In 2018, eleven $100 million+ mega deals were done with healthcare companies.  Also trending are more acquisitions of data-based companies vs. physical technology-based companies, the development of more data-enabled devices, and more therapeutic and diagnostic technologies that treat patients based on a genetic understanding of their disease.  Industry sectors with the highest value propositions include on-demand healthcare services, diagnosis of disease, fitness & wellness, consumer health information, monitoring of disease, and research & development catalyst (drug discovery, clinical trials). 

The path for precision, or personalized, medicine in the 4th IR is more than selecting the right drug for each patient.  It also means calibrating precise dosage, measuring drug efficacy/resistance, monitoring disease status, and calculating recurrence risk and disease predisposition, with the ultimate goal of disease prevention.  The tools for this evolution will be data analytics and data integration leading to predictive analytics.  The changes in diabetes treatment is a good example of the trend, moving from urine test strips and blood glucose meters measuring one data point accurately to devices that use sensors (skin and contact lenses) to measure multiple data points accurately.

Precision medicine will also be technology agnostic but data integrated, combining the latest innovations in diagnostics with patient data and leading to the emergence of a new field of data interpreters.  Hospitals in the future will move from an organ-based treatment paradigm to a mechanism, or genomic-based, paradigm.  Paradigm shifting has already begun with the FDA release of two new cancer drugs (Keytruda and Vitrakvi) that are based on a common biomarker across different types of tumors, and the NCI MATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice) Trial, a precision medicine cancer clinical trial in which patients receive treatment based on the genetic changes found in their tumors.  Medical practice will also evolve from evidence-based to a more precise data mining-based approach, where the shift will be from discovering drugs and finding patients to having patients with a particular DNA profile/disease genome and finding the drug(s) that will be most effective. 

Ms. Aspinall wrapped up her keynote with the following predictions:

  • Big tech will enter the precision-medicine and genomics markets
  • Digital health roll-ups (consolidations) will happen within the next 10 years
  • Data segmentation will create specialized markets
  • Payers will be the largest acquirers of data
  • Telemedicine will become mainstream and consolidate into 5 big players
  • Diagnostics will grow with alternate sample types, predictable reimbursements and increased pharma adoption

The showcase also included exhibit space for 15 New Mexico startup companies and business organizations. Presenters and exhibitors had ample networking sessions to talk with company technology scouts for possible business opportunities.

University and lab inventors pitched the following technologies to the crowd and panel of local sharks who asked market and commercialization questions and offered feedback:

  1. Adaptive Space-Time Processing, Khanh Pham, PhD (AFRL)
  2. NASA Innovations in Battery Technologies, Walter Ugalde (NASA Johnson Space Center)
  3. Non-Destructive, Real-Time Monitoring of Plant Water Status, David Hanson, PhD (UNM)
  4. Metasurface Technologies for Fast and Cheap DNA Sequencing, Adam Backer, PhD (Sandia)
  5. PYRLnESS: Rare Earth Starting Materials, Ross Beattie, PhD (LANL)
  6. Circular RNAs for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Brain Disorders, Nikolaos Mellios, MD, PhD, and Alex Hafez (UNM)
  7. Observing Satellites in the Daytime, Scott Milster and Waid Schlaegel (AFRL)
  8. DynAmmo Gas Sensors: Less Ammonia, More Profit, Kannan Ramaiyan, PhD (LANL)
  9. Bio-Inspired Deep Foundations Piles, Craig Newtson, PhD (NMSU)
  10. Paraquat as an Adjuvant for Insecticidal Bednets, Cody Champion, PhD (NMSU)
  11. Innovation and Technologies at White Sands, Joe Bullington (NASA White Sands)

To read the technology summaries go to the Innovate New Mexico website at https://www.innovatenewmexico.com/.

The lunch time session, moderated by Carlos Romero, Associate Vice President of Research & Economic Development at New Mexico Tech, featured a panel of New Mexico startup CEOs who discussed their experiences growing their companies in New Mexico. Panel speakers were John Brown, Chairman & CEO of Silent Falcon; Steve Graves, CEO & President of BennuBio; Charles Harb, CEO & President of RingIR, Inc.; Federica Pericle, President & CEO of AgilVax; and David Smidt, Owner of Mother Road Mobile Canning.

The showcase ended with closing remarks from Jennifer Sinsabaugh, CEO of the New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and a reception for the attendees.

Innovate New Mexico would like to thank event sponsors:  New Mexico Economic Development Department, New Mexico MEP, Sandia National Laboratories, Arrowhead Center at NMSU, and Richard P. Feynman Center for Innovation at LANL.

Special thanks goes to the lunch panel of startup executives mentioned above and the following shark panelists:  John Chavez, President of the NM Angels; Charles Mendez, CEO of Innobright Technologies, Inc.; Tom Nickoloff, Managing Director of BlueStone Venture Partners; Stuart Rose, Founder of The BioScience Center; and Mathis Shinnick, CEO of OptiPulse, Inc.

May 29, 2018

Spring Technology Showcase Draws Investors and Industry Reps to New Mexico

Spring Statewide Technology Showcase Draws Investors and Industry Reps to New Mexico

Innovate New Mexico, a network of the state’s six leading technology-transfer organizations, held its fifth event showcasing innovative technologies from the state’s research universities and national labs.

The May 1, 2018 gathering at the Sandia Golf Club in Albuquerque featured 10 technology pitches by inventors from the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University,  Sandia National Labs, Los Alamos National Lab, and the Air Force Research Labs to a crowd of approximately 150 investors, entrepreneurs, industry reps, , and local business members.

The day’s events included welcoming remarks from Matthew Geisel, cabinet secretary of the NM Economic Development Department and keynote remarks from Dr. Robert Peterkin, Director of the Albuquerque Operations for General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS).

Dr. Peterkin has pioneered the use of high performance computing for directed energy applications.  Prior to joining General Atomics, he was chief scientist for directed energy at the Air Force Research Laboratory in New Mexico and chief scientist for the Department of Defense High Performance Computing Modernization Program.  Dr. Peterkin received his Ph.D. in physics and astronomy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  GM-EMS is a global leader in the research, design, and manufacture of first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems.  The Albuquerque office is located at the Lobo Rainforest Building.

Dr. Peterkin’s presentation, “A Brief History of Innovation,” was an exploration of innovators through the ages, what motivates innovation, and what the future holds for the next disruptive innovation area:  artificial intelligence.  Taking his inspiration from Peter Drucker’s book, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, he stated that innovation is not just a buzzword but is a purposeful and systematic discipline, capable of being learned and practiced.  Entrepreneurs use innovation as a tool to create business opportunities for something new.  Ingredients for real innovation are the three “D”s:  dissatisfaction with the status quo; diversity of thought, experience, and knowledge; and determination to create a new, better way of doing something old.  He ended his presentation by say that the Lobo Rainforest at Innovate ABQ is an ecosystem that fosters the three “D”s.

The showcase also included exhibit space for 14 New Mexico startup companies and business organizations.

Presenters and exhibitors had ample networking sessions to talk with company technology scouts for possible business opportunities.

University and lab inventors pitched the following technologies to the crowd and panel of local sharks who asked market and commercialization questions and offered feedback:

  1. Dif-Fix: Get Your Gut Back, /Anand Kumar, PhD (Los Alamos)
  2. bioZera – 3D Bio-Printing, Christina Salas, PhD (UNM)
  3. Digitally Unclonable Function (DUF), Peter Choi, PhD (Sandia)
  4. Optically Levitated Nanoparticle Accelerometer, Maxwell Gregoire, PhD (AFRL)
  5. Ultrafast X-Ray Imager (UXI), Marcos Sanchez (Sandia)
  6. Assessing the Condition of Railroad Bridges Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Fernando Moreu, PhD, PE (UNM)
  7. Ultra-High Vacuum System Assembly Tool, Oscar Martinez, PhD (AFRL)
  8. Rapid Sepsis Sensor, Jessica Kubicek-Sutherland, PhD (Los Alamos)
  9. Alert Cardio: Low Power Integrated System for Real-Time Arrhythmia Detection, Wei Tang, PhD (NMSU)
  10. Prosthetic Sleeve Liner, Neda Sanatkaran, PhD (NMSU)

 

To read the technology summaries go to the Innovate New Mexico website at https://www.innovatenewmexico.com/.

 

The lunch time session, moderated by Carlos Romero, Associate Vice President of Research & Economic Development at New Mexico Tech, featured a panel of New Mexico startup CEOs who discussed their experiences growing their companies in New Mexico. Panel speakers were Mark Fidel, co-founder and head of corporate development at RiskSense, Inc.; Alex Gorsuch, research & development director of MagPi Innovations; Alex Koglin, founder and CTO of NTxBIO; Mathis Shinnick, CEO of OptiPulse, Inc.; and David Wilt, chief strategist of Osazda Energy, LLC.

The showcase ended with closing remarks from Jennifer Sinsabaugh, CEO of the New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and a reception for the attendees.

Innovate New Mexico would like to thank event sponsors:  Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), platinum level; Air Force Research Lab, Richard P. Feynman Center for Innovation at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and MEP, gold level; Sandia National Laboratories, silver level; and New Mexico Economic Development Department, bronze level.

Special thanks goes to the lunch panel of startup executives mentioned above and the following shark panelists:  John Bessone, director, Affinity Ventures; Mark Chavez, CEO, MyLens, Inc.; Donald Kirby, managing partner, Aspen Vista Capital; Tom Nickoloff, managing principal, Camino Real Capital Partners; Lexi Palmer, marketing manager, Meltdown Studio; and McLain Southworth, venture partner, Crosslink Capital.

November 1, 2017

Fall Statewide Technology Showcase Draws Investors and Industry Reps to New Mexico

Innovate New Mexico, a network of leading technology-transfer organizations, held its fourth event showcasing innovative technologies from the state’s research universities and national labs.

The October 17 gathering at the Sandia Golf Club in Albuquerque featured 12 technology pitches by inventors from the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Tech, Sandia National Labs, Los Alamos National Lab, and the Air Force Research Labs to a crowd of 150 investors, entrepreneurs, industry reps, staff members from all four of the New Mexico congressional offices, and local business members.

The day’s events included welcoming remarks from Matthew Geisel, cabinet secretary of the NM Economic Development Department and keynote remarks from Louis Berneman, founding partner of Osage University Partners.  Osage invests exclusively in university and research institution technologies, and has $315 million under management with 93 member institutions.  The venture capital firm has formed three funds, invests across all stages of technology development and focuses on launching high-quality startups by identifying high-quality management teams.

The showcase also included exhibit space for 17 New Mexico startup companies and business organizations.

Presenters and exhibitors had ample networking sessions to talk with company technology scouts for possible business opportunities.

University and lab inventors pitched the following technologies to the crowd and panel of local sharks who asked market and commercialization questions and offered feedback:

  1. Optical Rubidium Atomic Frequency Standard, Kyle Martin (AFRL)
  2. Flow Cytometry: New Time-Dependent Technologies, Jessica P. Houston, PhD (NMSU)
  3. A Solution for Drug Resistant Skin Infections and Wounds, Danielle Turner, PhD and Snezna Rogelj, PhD (NM Tech)
  4. Optimized Surface Dimpling for Commercial Vehicles, Aircraft, and Energy Applications, Sal Rodriguez, PhD (Sandia Labs)
  5. Transgenic Approaches to Improving Crop Plants—Increasing Biomass and Yields, Champa Gopalan, PhD (NMSU)
  6. Crack-Tolerant Advanced Metallization for PV, Sang Han, PhD (UNM)
  7. Compact Environmental Anomaly Sensor, Lt. David Stiles (AFRL)
  8. Internet for Everyone Using Air-Buoyant Vessels, Miles Beaux, PhD (Los Alamos)
  9. High Sensitivity Bearing Tester, Brendan L. Nation (Sandia Labs)

To read the technology summaries go to Featured Innovate New Mexico Technologies.

The lunch time session, moderated by Jackie Kerby Moore, executive director of the Sandia Science & Technology Park, featured a panel of New Mexico startup CEOs who discussed their experiences growing their companies in New Mexico. Panel speakers were Eric Branson, VP & CTO for Advanced Manufactured Power Solutions, LLC; Derek Doyle, chief engineer & co-founder of Defend Six Corporation; Michael Perrine, director of business development at Agilvax; and Barr Zulevi, CTO & president of Pajarito Powder.

The showcase ended with closing remarks from Jennifer Sinsabaugh, director of the New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).

Innovate New Mexico would like to thank event sponsors:  Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), platinum level; Air Force Research Lab, Los Alamos National Lab, MEP, gold level; Sandia National Labs, silver level; and NM Economic Development Department, bronze level.

A special thanks goes to the lunch panel of startup executives mentioned above and the following shark panelists:  Mathis Shinnick, CEO, OptiPulse; Wayne Laslie, former president and CEO and current board member, Zocere; Dorian Rader, vice president, New Mexico Angels; Charles Call, CEO, CleanSpot; Charles Mendez, CEO, Enthentica and InnoBright; and Kyle Guin, founder & CEO, Pencil-In.

To read more about the technology showcase, see Kevin Robinson-Avila’s October 17, 2017 article, “Innovate NM flaunts cutting-edge technology,” from the Albuquerque Journal, reprinted below.

Innovate NM flaunts cutting-edge technology

By Kevin Robinson-Avila / Journal Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 17th, 2017 at 3:25pm

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico’s national labs and research universities pitched a dozen new technologies to investors and entrepreneurs at the state’s fourth Innovate New Mexico showcase on Tuesday.

The event at Sandia Casino’s Golf Club unites scientists, engineers and technology transfer professionals to build interest among potential funders and corporate partners to take emerging lab and university innovation to market.

The initiative, begun in spring 2016 as a twice-annual event, attracted about 150 participants this time, including angel investors, venture capitalists, and corporate technology scouts from the U.S. and other countries.

Presenters unveiled a broad range of cutting-edge advances, such as:

  • a topical cream that kills antibiotic-resistant bacteria in skin infections, developed by New Mexico Tech in Socorro.
  • a novel genetic engineering technique to improve alfalfa crop growth and yields from New Mexico State University.
  • Sandia National Laboratories process to add indentations on the surfaces of vehicles, ships and aircraft to reduce friction from turbulence and increase fuel efficiency.
  • a method to make solar cells on spacecraft more robust to prolong operation in harsh space conditions, developed by the University of New Mexico and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Investors said they were impressed by the scope and potential impact of technologies on display, and by the ability of all six New Mexico labs and research universities to work together to promote innovation.

“The raw talent and innovation that exists here is impressive,” said McLain Southworth of San Francisco-based Crosslink Capital. “The way they’ve organized everything together in one event is about the most effective process I’ve seen in these types of lab and university presentations. It’s a winning strategy that could help New Mexico become the next big tech hub.”

Louis Berneman, founding partner of Philadelphia-based venture firm Osage University Partners, said attracting venture investment is extremely difficult given the intense competition among startups nationally.

“We look for transformative, paradigm-shifting technologies,” Berneman told conference participants. “…We’re impressed with what we’ve seen here. Albuquerque and New Mexico have real opportunities coming out of the research institutions.”

One technology, the process for making solar cells on spacecraft more robust, already attracted an initial investment from the New Mexico Angels, which recently formed a new startup to take it to market. That company, Ozasda Energy LLC, emerged from stealth mode for the first time at the conference.

Source: https://www.abqjournal.com/1079222/innovate-nm-flaunts-cutting-edge-technology.html

October 12, 2017

Innovate New Mexico® Fall Tech Showcase Featuring Inventions from New Mexico’s Research Institutions and Startup Companies

There’s still time to register for Innovate New Mexico®’s Fall 2017 Technology Showcase, to be held on Tuesday, October 17, at the Sandia Resort & Casino Golf Club.

The special collaborative event will highlight research and technology opportunities, startup companies, and economic development resources from the leading research institutions in the state of New Mexico.   Inventors from the Air Force Research Laboratory, Los Alamos National Labs, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Tech, Sandia National Laboratories, and the University of New Mexico will pitch their technologies to invited industry representatives and investors.  Startups from around the state will be on hand to showcase their company products as well.

The day will include 12 featured technology presentations, a lunchtime panel of local entrepreneurs and their startups, and networking breaks throughout to visit with inventors, entrepreneurs, investors, industry representatives and startup tables.  The showcase begins with registration and networking at 7:45 am, followed by remarks from Matthew Geisel, Cabinet Secretary for the NM Economic Development Department and keynote speaker Louis Berneman, founding partner of investment firm Osage University Partners. Technology presentations and feedback from shark panels will occur throughout the morning and afternoon.  The lunchtime panel includes Derek Doyle, co-founder of DefendSix Corporation, Barr Zulevi, president & CTO of Pajarito Powder, Michael Perrine, director of business development for Agilvax, and Eric Branson, VP & CTO of Advanced Manufactured Power Solutions, LLC.  A dessert and coffee networking reception at 3:00 pm will wrap up the event.

To register go to https://innovateNewMexico.eventbrite.com.

May 3, 2017

Innovate New Mexico® Holds Its Third Statewide Technology Showcase

Innovate New Mexico, the state’s network of leading technology transfer organizations, is gaining traction in its efforts to become the state’s united entrance to the innovative technologies coming from New Mexico’s research universities and national labs.  On April 18, the network—STC.UNM, NMSU Arrowhead Center, New Mexico Tech, and the Sandia, Los Alamos, and Air Force Research Labs—held its third technology showcase at the Sandia Golf Club in Albuquerque.

 

The day’s events included welcoming remarks from Lisa Kuuttila, CEO & Chief Economic Development Officer at STC.UNM; Mary Monson, Senior Manager of Industry Partnerships at Sandia; Peter Anselmo, Executive Director of  the Center for Technology Commercialization, Terry Lombard, Director of IP & Technology Transfer at the NMSU Arrowhead Center; Ross Munchhausen from the Richard P. Feynman Center for Innovation at Los Alamos; and Matt Fetrow, Tech Engagement Lead at the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL).

 

Six researchers from UNM, NMSU, NM Tech, Sandia, and AFRL pitched their technologies (see list below) to 160 attendees  comprised of national and international companies, investors, entrepreneurs, and local business and community leaders.

  • Pseudomorphic Glass for Space Solar Cells, David Wilt – AFRL
  • Microneedle Sensors to Monitor Health and Human Performance, Ronen Polsky, PhD – Sandia
  • DNA-Based Biosensor, Steve Graves, PhD – UNM
  • Method and System for Purifying Produced Water, Jianjia Yu, PhD – New Mexico Tech
  • Ligand-Directed Targeting and Molecular Imaging Based on In Vivo Phage Display, Renata Pasqualini, PhD and Wadih Arap, MD, PhD – UNM
  • ZIF CO2 Capture, Nasser Khazeni, PhD – NMSU

 

The event also featured 18 New Mexico start-up companies and organizations on display:  AEGorsuch Designs, Biophagy, Inc., BioSafe Technologies, Cylenta Pharmaceuticals, Ecopesticides International, Enthentica, EquiSeq, KoolArmor, Michael Wallace & Associates, Osazda Energy, Osazda Materials, PanMuse, LLC, VisionQuest Biomedical, Zeall, Zocere, Inc., New Mexico Start-Up Factory, New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), and Northern New Mexico College.

 

Presenters and exhibitors had ample networking sessions to talk with company technology scouts for possible business opportunities.  Meetings were also scheduled and held between companies and start-ups and technology inventors.

 

The lunch time session, moderated by Lisa Kuuttila, featured a panel of New Mexico start-up CEOs who discussed their experiences growing their companies in New Mexico.  Participants were Brian Barnes, Project Manager of Resilient Solutions 21, Mark Fidel, Co-Founder and Head of Corporate Development for RiskSense, David Joseph, Co-Founder and CEO of Avisa Pharma, and Carlos Murguia, CEO of KoolArmor.  Ms. Kuuttila noted that New Mexico is ranked 18th in the U.S. for its innovation assets and 1st  in R&D per capita.   The speakers cited several advantages to entrepreneurs who start companies in New Mexico:  access to a tremendous amount of IP in an R&D-rich environment, support from science, technology, and business communities, state government incentives such as job training and tax credits, and low cost-of-living.  Disadvantages included a lack of large institutional investors, not enough private sector development (need bigger companies here), and not enough senior management talent to run new companies.

 

The showcase ended with closing remarks from Jennifer Sinsabaugh, Center Director of MEP, and Julia Wise, Manager of the Office of Science and Technology for the New Mexico Economic Development Department.

 

Innovate New Mexico would like to thank the presenters, exhibitors, and lunch panelists.  A special thanks goes to our shark panelists:  Nyika Allen, President & CEO of the New Mexico Technology Council, Kathleen Gardenswartz, Co-Founder of Surefi, Kyle Gui, Founder of Pencil-In, Robert Nath, Member of the STC Board of Directors, Dorian Rader, Vice President of the New Mexico Angels, and Mathis Shinnick, CEO of OptiPulse, Inc.  Last but not least, Innovate New Mexico is deeply grateful to the following event sponsors:  Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), AFRL, Sandia National Laboratories, MEP, and New Mexico Tech.

 

To read more about the technology showcase, see Kevin Robinson-Avila’s April 18, 2017 article, “Innovation event displays technology from around NM,” from the Albuquerque Journal, reprinted below.

Innovation event displays technology from around NM

By Kevin Robinson-Avila / Journal Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 18th, 2017 at 2:20pm

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Badojo software inventor Panaiotis, left, creates music with a PanMuse LLC’s touch board technology at the Innovate New Mexico technology showcase on Tuesday. (KEVIN ROBINSON-AVILA/JOURNAL)

 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — From biosensors to cancer-targeting technology, a broad range of innovation was on display Tuesday at the Innovate New Mexico technology showcase at the Sandia Golf Club in Albuquerque.

 

The twice-per-year event, which first launched in spring 2016, unites innovators and technology transfer professionals from the state’s research universities and national laboratories in a joint effort to attract investor interest in new, cutting-edge innovation.

 

Nearly 160 people participated on Tuesday, including more than 100 businesspeople, investors and corporate technology scouts. About 30 of them came from other states and countries, including China, India and Japan, said Lisa Kuuttila, the University of New Mexico’s chief economic development officer and head of the Science and Technology Corp., UNM’s tech-transfer office.

 

“It’s an opportunity for all the state’s research universities and national labs to showcase their technologies together,” Kuuttila said. “It’s enabling us to get national and international attention for our science and technology assets.”

 

Innovators discussed six different technologies from UNM, New Mexico Tech, New Mexico State University, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

 

The Air Force lab showed a new glass covering for solar panels on satellites to better protect them in space. The lab wants to license that for commercial applications, such as shielding solar cells on unmanned aerial vehicles.

 

Sandia discussed microneedle sensors about the width of three human hairs that can be used in wearable devices to continuously monitor for health and human performance.

 

UNM showed a new DNA-based biosensor for rapid detection of specific diseases, such as dengue. It also discussed a novel cancer-targeting technology to diagnose and treat tumors, which it developed in collaboration with LANL.

 

New Mexico Tech had a mobile water-purifying system for use on-site at oil and gas wells to reduce costs for treating and disposing of produced water. And NMSU showed a new carbon-capture technology that can absorb a lot more carbon than other materials in use today.

 

About 15 startup companies from around the state also pitched their products and services at the event.

 

Two Dow Chemical technology scouts from India and the western U.S. said they were attracted by the unique materials-related technologies emerging in New Mexico and the novel approach of showing it through a collaborative, statewide initiative.

 

“Where we come from, it’s rare to find events with such a high concentration of materials research and development that’s of interest to us,” said Leigh Thompson, a Dow scout in California.

 

Her colleague, Chedarampet Karthikeyan of India, said the participation of three national labs is a big selling point.

 

“You don’t see that in many places,” Karthikeyan said.

 

Also see the Living Cities video on the Innovate New Mexico event: