Innovate ABQ has been a collective dream of Albuquerque’s for years. It came into fruition in 2012 when the then newly appointed UNM President Bob Frank invited a cohort from Albuquerque—including Mayor Richard J Berry, and UNM and economic development leaders—to Florida. The University of Florida’s innovation hub, Innovation Square, was successfully contributing to a dynamic and diversified economy and adding jobs in the state of Florida. “What came out of that trip [to Florida] is that the business sector, the city and county and the university realized that if we came together we could do so much more than if we went our separate ways,” said President Frank addressing the University of New Mexico’s Economic Development Forum in mid-October.

Under President Frank’s new leadership, UNM has set out to play a significant role in growing the regional economy.

Fast forward four years and not only is the vision clearer for Albuquerque’s innovation district, the ground is broken and partnerships are growing and strong. The seven acre Innovate ABQ site is “the hub on which the whole of Downtown will light up” said Frank, standing in front of an architectural rendering of the site that inspires as much excitement as was in his voice. “We want that all ignited,” said Frank, “from Lomas to Central Avenue and all the way up to University … but you have to start someplace.”

As with any university, UNM’s job is to educate citizens, but the approach that UNM is taking is what’s unique. UNM’s focus on transforming how students envision their future and the opportunities before them is guiding the university to make some big changes. “We want to create students that have a different idea about the world,” said Frank in his address, “We want them not to look for jobs but to create them. They are entrepreneurs and innovators. But to do that we have to create something different.” Rather than promoting UNM’s business college, or offering entrepreneurship courses, UNM created the innovationAcademy that invites students across disciplines to engage in entrepreneurship and innovation. Then they launched the 2+1+2 program with CNM to increase access to a graduate degree for people who otherwise might not complete an associates.

“I’m thrilled with our progress,” said Frank. “We are farther than we would ever have imagined. All the other innovation corridors took ten years to get where we are now. We have made extraordinary progress because of the people who have been involved who really made this happen.”