COSMIAC, a space-related research center in the School of Engineering, has received the inaugural Space Valley Diversity in Business Champion Award, sponsored by the New Mexico Minority Business Development Agency.
COSMIAC provides innovative technical solutions for aerospace companies and government agencies. It also provides hands-on training and research opportunities to students (40% of whom are female) and collaborates with various aerospace companies, universities, and defense organizations on a wide range of projects. COSMIAC is led by Christos Christodoulou, a distinguished professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Also receiving an award was IDEAS-TEK, an embedded system design and software development company managed by Alonzo Vera, who received both a master’s and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from UNM. IDEAS-TEK was incubated at COSMIAC for many years. It was selected as the Minority-Owned Company of the Year.
The winners were selected for their efforts to make New Mexico a leader in space innovation while also promoting diversity and inclusivity in the growing space industry.