Monthly news, events & updates

Building a Rainforest in the Desert | December 2023

Report Uncovers UNM’s $5.2 Billion Economic Impact During Academic Year 2022

A new report, titled “The Statewide Economic Impact of the University of New Mexico,” analyzed data from academic year 2022 and worked to quantify the entire UNM system’s economic impact. The report investigated four major components of UNM’s contributions to the New Mexico economy, including university operations, student expenditures, alumni human capital, and technology transfer. These four components accounted for 47,053 jobs, $1.9 billion in labor income, and $5.2 billion in economic output.

“The Statewide Economic Impact of The University of New Mexico Report, based on data from the 2022 academic year, clearly shows that UNM is making a large economic contribution to our state and continues to drive economic and social prosperity,” said UNM President Garnett S. Stokes. “One thing is clear, The University of New Mexico is one of the state’s most valuable assets. As the state’s flagship university, we provided a staggering $5.2 billion in economic output in academic year 2022. That translates into real economic progress and prosperity not just for Lobos, but for all New Mexicans. We truly are The University for New Mexico, and very proud of that.”

The Importance of Disclosing Inventions and Protecting Intellectual Property

Hear from Graham Timmins, PhD, on the importance of disclosing inventions and protecting intellectual property at the University of New Mexico (UNM) through the technology transfer office, UNM Rainforest Innovations (UNMRI).

Dr. Timmins is an associate professor in the UNM College of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. He received his PhD in 1990 and in 2001 he joined the faculty at UNM.

UNM Rainforest Innovations Welcomes New Staff Member

Kelli Monnheimer

Accounting Coordinator

UNM Rainforest Innovations 2024 Calendar Has Arrived

The UNM Rainforest Innovations 2024 calendar is now available! Twelve UNM faculty members from both HSC and Main Campus are highlighted with information on their technologies and research areas. Congratulations to our featured inventors!

We will be mailing out these calendars to our UNM inventors and business community. To ensure that you receive a calendar or if your address has changed, please contact: Savanah Romero at sromero@innovations.unm.edu.

UNM Rainforest Innovations Hosts and Trains Group of Six Visitors from Japan

A group of six visitors from Japan, led by Eri Hoshi the Co-founder of KOSEI (Knowledge Transfer of Sports, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation) LLC, recently visited UNM Rainforest Innovations as part of its Professional Internship Academy. Designed for professionals seeking to gain an understanding of the role of a technology transfer office, the program aims to give participants a comprehensive knowledge on the commercialization and management of inventions.

In the Spotlight - Featured UNM Inventor

Nikolaos Mellios, M.D., Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Neurosciences

AIM Center of Biomedical Research Excellence

The University of New Mexico

Dr. Mellios' research areas include:

Role of circRNAs in brain development, synaptic plasticity, and cognitive function.
Use of circRNAs as biomarkers for better diagnosis and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Role of circRNAs in the pathogenesis of Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

New Mexico Advanced Energy Award Pilot Program

The Office of Strategy, Science & Technology is accepting applications for the NM Advanced Energy Award Pilot Program.

Application deadline: Tuesday, January 2 at 5 p.m.

The New Mexico Economic Development Department is offering Advanced Energy Award Pilot Program (NM AEAPP) grant awards up to $1,000,000 to accelerate development and commercialization of technologies in the Advanced Energy Sector.

Award Ceiling - $1,000,000
Award Floor - $250,000

This is a competitive grant for companies headquartered in New Mexican that are in need of non-dilutive funding to advance their technology in the Advanced Energy Sector. Award funds cannot be used for payroll or alcohol/drugs/food. No more than 10% of funds can be used to attend trade shows.

Review the FY 2024 Policy Manual

Accepting Applications Now for Spring 2024 Rainforest Accelerator!

In this program, teams of faculty and/or students, entrepreneurs, and mentors (mentors provided by the Rainforest Accelerator) receive $3,000 of funding to develop a business model and complete extensive market discovery for a disclosed UNM technology.

The outcomes you can expect through this program include:

Exploring the transition of your technology to the marketplace.
Determining the value proposition, customer, the size of the market, and market trends for your technology.
Receive a dedicated mentor to provide one-on-one guidance.
Learn to use tools such as Slack and Zoom.
Conduct 25-100 discovery interviews and provide a formal presentation to investors at the end of the program to receive feedback on the commercialization opportunity of your technology.

Apply now

The program will run on Mondays, 4:00pm-5:00pm from January 29, 2024 – March 25, 2024 online via Zoom meetings. The Final Presentations will be March 25, 2024 at the Lobo Rainforest Building.

Join us for the indigiMixer on Friday, December 15 from 1-5 p.m. at the Lobo Rainforest Building. No need to register. Come by to enjoy the afternoon featuring company pitches, food, and local vendors!

Fall 2023 Rainforest Pitch Competition Awards Ten Student Finalists with Cash Prizes

On November 8, the University of New Mexico Anderson’s Innovation Academy hosted the fall 2023 Rainforest Pitch Competition in collaboration with UNM Rainforest Innovations. Held at Bow and Arrow Brewing Co., an audience of friends, family, and supports gathered to watch ten student finalists pitch their innovative business ideas.

A total of 48 students submitted pitch videos for review by two preliminary judges. Those judges then choose the top 10 students who advanced to the final round at Bow and Arrow.

Each student had 90 seconds to pitch their entry-level business idea for three top prizes. Securing first place for the Audience Choice award of $1,000 was Ankit Jaiswal for Campus Park. The Judge’s Choice award winners were two students from Anderson’s Japanese partnership school, Yamanashi Gakuin University. They were Yasutada Ichikawa for FAM Passport and Masaki Murakami for Nailykey. Both students received $950 in prize money.

The remaining seven finalists, which included Tina Memarian with DentaFresh, Andrew Norton with Trust Athletics, Keely Santillan with The Passion Project, Tiwalola Anawao with @Tiwalands, Olumide Oladoyin and Raju Vadthya with ROMINIUM TECH, Beliza Sanchez with PocDoc, and Aleksandra Wolczak with Wolczix, each secured a prize of $300.

Interested in participating in the spring Rainforest Pitch Competition?

The spring 2024 pitch competition dates are set. The deadline to submit your video pitch submission is Tuesday, March 26, 2024 and the live final round will be Wednesday, April 10, at Bow and Arrow Brewing Co.

For more information and to apply for the spring 2024 competition, visit http://innovations.unm.edu/epc/.