OPINION: The path to tech leadership runs through the Southwest

For too long, the national conversation around America’s technological future has been driven by anxiety, dominated by fears of potential threats rather than recognizing the opportunities directly in front of us. New Mexico tells a different story. Here, we’ve shown that when a state aligns talent development, policy and infrastructure, innovation becomes a powerful engine for economic growth.

Over the last few years, New Mexico has committed to a willingness to work together. Policymakers, universities, national labs and local businesses have built a foundation for a modern technology economy, one that is growing faster than many may realize. But as this new era of innovation accelerates, driven by artificial intelligence, advanced computing and electrification, the states that will lead are those that ensure they have the power and related infrastructure to sustain it.

Any long-term innovation strategy must first start with people, and New Mexico’s talent pipeline is increasingly one of our greatest strengths. Our workforce programs and higher education institutions are the engine of this effort, working hand-in-hand to prepare the next generation of innovators who will power our economy for decades to come.

The University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University and New Mexico Tech are producing thousands of STEM graduates each year and partnering directly with New Mexico businesses to match degrees in fields like cybersecurity, clean energy, aerospace and advanced manufacturing. In fact, New Mexico now ranks sixth in the nation for manufacturing employment growth and has added more than 12,000 new jobs in the last year alone.

Our state is also benefiting from organizations that nurture local talent in local companies. In Albuquerque, CNM Ingenuity has helped launch hundreds of startups and placed thousands of New Mexicans into high-wage tech jobs while the Elevate Quantum Tech Hub has positioned the state as a leader in quantum information science and attracted national partners in AI, defense and semiconductor innovation. These hubs, combined with a growing network of accelerators and university partnerships, are creating opportunities that keep our homegrown talent right here in New Mexico.

To help strengthen this foundation, I was proud to champion House Bill 20, which established the Technology and Innovation Division within the Economic Development Department. The bill secured more than $90 million to support recruitment, retention and training in high-tech fields — investments that will continue to attract companies specializing in AI, clean energy, advanced computing and bioscience. These are the kinds of employers that bring not only high-paying jobs, but long-term economic stability.

New Mexico also benefits from an unparalleled concentration of scientific power. World-class research centers like Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory are anchoring billions of dollars in federal research and increasingly partnering with local businesses to translate research into commercial products, new companies and career pathways for New Mexicans. Growing companies like UbiQD in Los Alamos, Descartes Labs in Santa Fe, and RS21 in Albuquerque are just a few examples of what’s possible when federal R&D is paired with local innovation.

But leading the next generation of technology requires more than talent and R&D. It requires reliable, affordable energy. Across the country, electricity prices are rising not because of AI or data centers, but because America has under-invested in its power grid for decades. Our aging infrastructure is forcing utilities to play catch-up, and our innovation ecosystem is paying the price.

As one of the nation’s leaders in wind and solar potential, New Mexico is better positioned than almost any other state to support the growth of energy-intensive industries like data centers and AI development. With grid modernization already underway, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build an energy backbone that supports innovation while keeping costs affordable for families and businesses.

Across every sector, New Mexico continues moving forward. Whether it’s strengthening our workforce, deepening partnerships with the national labs or modernizing our energy infrastructure, New Mexico has proven that smart, proactive policy leads to measurable economic outcomes.

New Mexico’s story shows what is possible when states take the lead: innovation thrives, jobs grow and communities benefit. As the national conversation continues, our example stands as a reminder that the future of America’s tech leadership won’t be written in Washington, but in states like New Mexico, where collaboration, creativity and long-term thinking are already shaping the next era of economic opportunity.

Rep. Meredith Dixon represents New Mexico’s House District 20 and serves as vice chair of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee.