Gov. Susana Martinez has proposed spending $9.5 million on two high-tech research and development initiatives.
The governor says the aim is to attract top faculty members to New Mexico's colleges and universities and to fund innovative projects that have the potential to contribute to the state's economic growth.
Martinez unveiled her proposals during visits Thursday to the University of New Mexico and New Mexico Tech.
One initiative calls for reforming the Higher Education Endowment fund and appropriating $7.5 million to allow New Mexico's colleges and universities to compete for endowed chairs.
Martinez also called for $2 million to activate the Technology Research Collaborative, which would allow researchers from the national labs and New Mexico's colleges and universities to team up and compete for funding.
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