New Mexico Science & Technology Business Startup Grant
New Mexico Economic Development Department — Technology and Innovation Office
$25,000–$50,000
NM pays to take your tech to market
New Mexico's Technology and Innovation Office awards $25,000–$50,000 grants to early-stage New Mexico tech companies commercializing unique technologies in aerospace, advanced computing, advanced energy, and bioscience. Unlike R&D grants, these funds are meant for commercialization activities — IP filing, lab testing, regulatory assessment, customer discovery, and trade show attendance. Applications are competitive and reviewed annually.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- $25,000 – $50,000
- Realistic amount
- Most awardees receive $30,000–$50,000. Past awardees in 2024 received awards at the $30K–$50K range based on disclosed p…
- Deadline
- Annual competitive round — most recent FY26 round closed. Next application period to be announced on edd.newmexico.gov.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- NM
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Business must be headquartered in New Mexico
- Must be an early-stage company engaged in research and development
- Technology or product must have strong commercial growth potential
- Must be in one of the Technology and Innovation Office priority sectors: Advanced Computing, Advanced Energy, Aerospace & Defense Systems, or Bioscience
- Business must commit to continuing to do business in New Mexico
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- Location restriction: New Mexico — business must be headquartered in New Mexico
- Restricted to industry: Advanced Computing, Advanced Energy, Aerospace & Defense Systems, or Bioscience
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Intellectual property assessment and patent filing costs
- Third-party laboratory testing and validation
- Regulatory assessment and certification costs (FDA, FAA, etc.)
- Customer, investor, and partner meetings (travel and related costs)
- Trade show attendance (limited to 10% of award maximum)
- Market research and data acquisition
Ineligible expenses
- Payroll and salaries
- R&D materials and supplies over $100
- Laboratory or business equipment
- Alcohol, food, or personal expenses
- Activities unrelated to technology commercialization
How to apply
-
1
Confirm sector and commercialization stage eligibility
Verify your technology falls in one of TIO's four priority areas. Confirm you have a unique technology or product being prepared for market entry — not basic R&D.
~2 hrs
-
2
Prepare application during the open window
Complete the competitive application on the NM EDD grants portal. Describe your technology, commercialization plan, market opportunity, and how funds will accelerate market entry. Include IP status and any customer validation.
~10 hrs
-
3
Review and award notification
TIO reviews applications competitively. Award decisions are announced after the cycle closes. Past awardees in 2024 included companies in space communications, water treatment, med-tech, and geothermal energy.
~0 hrs
-
4
Execute grant and report on commercialization milestones
Sign a grant agreement with TIO. Report on commercialization milestones and funding use as required. Maintain New Mexico business presence.
~3 hrs
Payroll and R&D supplies are explicitly ineligible — funds are for commercialization activities only. Companies with IP, customer LOIs, or regulatory milestones in progress write the strongest applications.
Deadline & timing
Applications are accepted during annual competitive rounds. FY26 round has closed. Information about the next application period will be posted on the NM EDD website when available. Monitor edd.newmexico.gov/grants for announcements.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.