THE PROBLEM: When a technology is transferred out of the laboratory, it takes significant capital investment and research and development to make that technology market ready. After collaborating for over 20 years on the successful New Mexico (NM) Small Business Assistance Program, which helps NM small businesses overcome technical challenges, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and the state of NM asked: How can we help more companies, particularly those that have transferred technology, get the technology to market? 

THE SOLUTION: Sandia and LANL partnered with the state of NM to develop the TRGR Technology Readiness Initiative, an innovative program focused on technology maturation for NM companies that have licensed technology from or established a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the NM national laboratories. TRGR helps companies overcome early-stage challenges, guiding them through the “Valley of Death” by assisting with prototype development and technology validation, moving the companies closer to gaining investment funding, introducing their products to market, and hiring new employees. TRGR is an essential ingredient in creating more startups, capital, and technology jobs in NM. 

THE TECH TRANSFER MECHANISM: Due to the innovative nature of the TRGR Program, new technology transfer mechanisms were created and used by both nominees and their respective labs. Technical Assistance Maturation Agreements (TAMA), a simple agreement used with all license types, speed up a company’s engagement with the lab compared to a standard Strategic Partnership Project agreement. A TRGR-specific CRADA template makes it easier for companies to get access to lab technology and the assistance available through TRGR. LANL created a flat-rate, non-negotiable Test and Evaluation License that can now also be used beyond the TRGR Program. Another innovative technology transfer mechanism, the umbrella CRADA, allows companies to work with Sandia on multiple projects with different task statements, whether funded by TRGR or other sources. 

THE IMPACT: As of publication, since TRGR began in 2020, it has already been responsible for 15 new licenses and three new CRADAs. Almost $1.5 million in lab hours have been utilized to benefit NM businesses – and the number of participating companies is increasing each year. In Fiscal Year 2021-22, companies in the TRGR program received $15,103,465 in new funding/financing, according to third-party data. The program has also allowed lab researchers to expand their skill sets as they provide assistance and learn what it takes to move technology to market. The initiative has become an essential ingredient to create more startups, capital and technology jobs in NM. Through collaboration, innovation, creativity, and adopting best practices that streamline processes, the TRGR Initiative team is actively creating economic development in NM.