Pushing New Technology from the Lab to the Market: UNM Fueling the Growth of High-Tech Industry in New Mexico
At the University of New Mexico, researchers are actively engaged in finding solutions to real-world problems and working to bring those solutions to the marketplace.
Since 1996, UNM researchers have
- disclosed 2,397 new inventions
Since 1996, UNM Rainforest Innovations, the University’s technology transfer arm, has
- Filed 1,748 patent applications
- Received 853 issued U.S. patents
- Executed 817 license and option agreements
- Spun off 155 start-up companies from UNM technologies
UNM Rainforest Innovations in collaboration with national laboratories (Sandia and LANL) has
- 297 jointly owned inventions
- Executed 47 license and option agreements
- Spun off 13 start-up companies from jointly owned technologies
- Generated over $85M in revenue
In 2013 alone, 26 UNM start-ups generated a significant impact on the local economy
- 147 high-paying jobs
- $3.5 million in revenue
- $8.6 million in salaries and benefits
- $4.7 million in goods, services and spending
- Raised $17 million in venture capital
Among its 18 peer institutions, for every $2 million in research dollars spent, UNM is
- 8th in number of invention disclosures
- 1st in number of licenses and options signed
- 10th in licensing income
- 2nd in number of start-up companies created
From the disclosure of new ideas today comes the valuable patents and copyrights of tomorrow that will create the innovative products and companies of the future. UNM research —where a wealth of new ideas is bringing sustained wealth to New Mexico’s economy.
| Fiscal Year | Disclosures | U.S. Patents Filed | U.S. Issued Patents | Option/License Agreements | Start-up Companies | Income* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 94 | 56 | 45 | 41 | 8 | $5,943,004 |
| 2021 | 81 | 64 | 54 | 43 | 6 | $55,145,769 |
| 2020 | 127 | 77 | 46 | 47 | 4 | $53,830,466 |
| 2019 | 125 | 102 | 63 | 53 | 11 | $1,954,033 |
| 2018 | 107 | 93 | 54 | 52 | 11 | $2,091,491 |
| 2017 | 114 | 68 | 74 | 58 | 12 | $2,050,437 |
| 2016 | 102 | 77 | 69 | 54 | 12 | $2,550,697 |
| 2015 | 125 | 99 | 46 | 50 | 9 | $2,729,547 |
| 2014 | 119 | 95 | 45 | 56 | 9 | $1,718,949 |
| 2013 | 138 | 117 | 51 | 63 | 9 | $2,189,442 |
| 2012 | 124 | 90 | 31 | 46 | 7 | $2,922,575 |
| 2011 | 110 | 99 | 30 | 36 | 5 | $3,333,218 |
| 2010 | 122 | 106 | 26 | 36 | 5 | $3,976,373 |
| 2009 | 113 | 84 | 15 | 38 | 8 | $1,069,389 |
| 2008 | 112 | 76 | 11 | 21 | 6 | $834,076 |
| 2007 | 85 | 69 | 11 | 25 | 8 | $938,308 |
| 2006 | 96 | 62 | 13 | 30 | 7 | $970,584 |
| 2005 | 79 | 56 | 15 | 18 | 5 | $872,474 |
| 2004 | 67 | 63 | 19 | 16 | 3 | $390,811 |
| 2003 | 46 | 20 | 28 | 9 | 1 | $306,314 |
| 2002 | 49 | 30 | 13 | 4 | 1 | $78,025 |
| 2001 | 67 | 22 | 26 | 5 | 3 | $99,870 |
| 2000 | 54 | 38 | 14 | 3 | 2 | $137,499 |
| 1999 | 61 | 32 | 13 | 3 | 1 | $349,454 |
| 1998 | 40 | 18 | 20 | 3 | 0 | $337,537 |
| 1997 | 22 | 18 | 12 | 7 | 1 | $219,753 |
| 1996 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 2 | 0 | $62,884 |
*Combined licensing revenue and patent cost reimbursement revenues.