Right now, the heart of the innovation district envisioned by Innovate ABQ is taking shape in downtown Albuquerque. Construction of the Lobo Rainforest Building is underway and by August STC and the Innovation Academy will be moving to new offices on the ground floor of the new building. The space is designed to increase collaborations for university inventors and entrepreneurs from around the state, with an important focus on UNM student inventors and entrepreneurs. Students will have more opportunities to collaborate with other inventors, entrepreneurs, and investors to commercialize their technologies and creative ideas.
STC and the Innovation Academy are also collaborating more with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL). The Lab will have a designated technology-transfer offices, the Technology Engagement Office, at the Lobo Rainforest Building to take advantage of research collaborations and start-up company formation.
Students will have the opportunity to take classes, participate in events and live in apartments located on floors 2-6. STC’s incubator, the Cecchi VentureLab, will have space to support research- and student-related start-ups. The new building will also have a Nusenda Credit Union office, café, and event space for technology showcases, seminars, internship fairs, and pitch competitions.
To read more about the AFRL move, see May Ortega’s February 17 article, “Big-name tenant confirms it’s coming to Innovate ABQ,” at http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2017/02/17/big-name-tenant-confirms-its-coming-to-innovate.html.