New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of the winners of a prestigious prize aimed at fostering clean energy innovation nationwide. The award was announced as part of the Energy Program for Innovation Clusters, or EPIC, Round 3, Phase 1 program, with Arrowhead Center serving as the host for the live announcement.
According to Dana Catron, deputy director of Arrowhead Center, the institution will use the funding received to establish the Arrowhead RenewTech Incubator and Accelerator, focusing on advancing clean energy and water technologies in New Mexico. Catron noted that the programming tailored for energy innovators is a new endeavor for Arrowhead, aimed at overcoming the challenges faced by clients in bringing clean energy solutions to the market.
Arrowhead Center has a proven track record of success in working with startups and underserved communities, with a significant percentage of participants in the New Mexico Clean Energy Resilience and Growth Cluster identifying as underserved, as highlighted by Catron.
Luis Cifuentes, NMSU vice president for research and economic development, emphasized the collaborative nature of the award, stating, “NMSU is a university not just focused on academic excellence, but on fostering a community that graduates successful individuals ready to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.”
Victor Kane, director of commercialization programs in the Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Transitions, commended Arrowhead Center’s dedication to supporting emerging energy and water technology companies through mentorship, industry connections, and access to resources. Kane praised the Arrowhead RenewTech Incubator as an exemplar of innovation and collaboration that the EPIC program aims to promote.
The EPIC program, which has allocated $15.5 million to support over 230 startups across the U.S., aims to drive innovation in the clean energy sector. For more information on the program, interested individuals can visit the Department of Energy’s website.
The recognition and funding received by Arrowhead Center serve as a testament to the institution's commitment to advancing clean energy technologies and fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation within the industry.