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New Mexico Tech President Stephen Wells and NuCenda President and CEO Joe Christian shake hands after signing an agreement to create a new space for entrepreneurs and startups on California Street.
Kathy Cook | The main defender
A new position is opening in Socroro to help entrepreneurs get started with business, with help on everything from intellectual property rights to cyber security advice.
The office signed an agreement last Tuesday announcing the partnership between New Mexico Tech and NuCenda.
“This is an amazing example of how industry and academia can work together to change the culture of a small rural community,” said New Mexico Tech President Stephen Wells.
The Technology Commercialization Accelerator, a program led by Tech of Innovation Commercialization through a cooperative agreement with the Small Business Development Center Network, is located at NMT Startups at 1019 N. California St.
“Important technology has been developed at New Mexico Tech for decades. It started with Dr. Frank Etskorn and the development of the nicotine patch, and it’s spun off into new spins and even occasional ones, one of which is Socorro Membranes…which manufactures advanced water and filtration systems,” Wells said.
NMT Startups works with TCA, led by TCA coordinator Stefanita Rawlings, to provide intellectual property and cyber security training to clients across the state. TCA serves entrepreneurs at the ideation and innovation stages and provides confidential intellectual property advice at no cost.
“We’re going to help them with their ideas. When a person starts with an idea, they get stuck on the road. Go in, I have an idea, I want to put it on the shelf. OK, how do I get there?” said Rowling.
She has been doing that job from home for the past two years. Having an office space will make it easier for her to help entrepreneurs.
Two tech startups are set to have offices in the space: RD Health Sensing, a next-generation technology for smart clothing, and Socorro Membrane Technologies, a desalination technology.
Both startups developed their technologies at NMT. Dongyeon Ryu invented the wearable technology and Jianjia Yu is behind the saline cleansing technology.
“There will come a time when these companies will leave the campus, and if we want them to stay in Socorro, they will need a place to go,” said Peter Anselmo, who plays an important role in cooperation with startups.
“It’s the next step out of the university and into the community,” said OIC Executive Director Miria Tomar.
Typically, startups from NMT move to Albuquerque when they’re ready to spread their wings, because more resources are available there, Tomar said.
The next step is to build an off-campus lab to encourage companies to be closer to the innovation and campus, Anselmo said.
OIC was created in 2017 to promote a culture of entrepreneurship on campus, with a focus on tech-enabled marketing technology.
“We hope that our support of New Mexico Tech and OIC and the great work they do will contribute positively,” said NuCenda President and CEO Joe Christian.
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