Dr. Robert Peterkin, Director of the Albuquerque Operations for General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS)
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:
- Dif-Fix: Get Your Gut Back, /Anand Kumar, PhD (Los Alamos)
- bioZera – 3D Bio-Printing, Christina Salas, PhD (UNM)
- Digitally Unclonable Function (DUF), Peter Choi, PhD (Sandia)
- Optically Levitated Nanoparticle Accelerometer, Maxwell Gregoire, PhD (AFRL)
- Ultrafast X-Ray Imager (UXI), Marcos Sanchez (Sandia)
- Assessing the Condition of Railroad Bridges Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Fernando Moreu, PhD, PE (UNM)
- Ultra-High Vacuum System Assembly Tool, Oscar Martinez, PhD (AFRL)
- Rapid Sepsis Sensor, Jessica Kubicek-Sutherland, PhD (Los Alamos)
- Alert Cardio: Low Power Integrated System for Real-Time Arrhythmia Detection, Wei Tang, PhD (NMSU)
- Prosthetic Sleeve Liner, Neda Sanatkaran, PhD (NMSU)
To read the technology summaries go to the Innovate New Mexico website at http://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.