Sandia National Laboratories achieved a record-breaking economic impact of $5.2 billion for 2024, surpassing the previous year's figure by more than $423 million.
This total includes the salaries of the 16,900 people employed by Sandia in 2024, including 1,900 student interns, as well as the $1.08 billion paid to small business suppliers and the $133 million in gross receipts taxes paid to the state of New Mexico.
2024 was a significant year for Sandia, not only in its economic impact but also in its history, marking its 75th anniversary.
"For 75 years, Sandia National Laboratories has been a leader in strengthening national security and advancing technology," said Sandia Labs Director James Peery. "Our success relies on strong partnerships with diverse suppliers, particularly small businesses, which bring innovation, agility and expertise to our missions. We remain committed to collaborating with these vital enterprises, driving economic growth and cutting-edge science and engineering that benefit both New Mexico and the nation."
Supporting Small Businesses
One of the biggest success stories over the past year is Sandia's contribution to small businesses. Out of the more than $1.7 billion spent on subcontracts, $1.08 billion went to small businesses, including woman-owned, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, small disadvantaged and HUBZone businesses.
"Sandia National Laboratories has a long and distinguished history of partnering with highly qualified, diverse small business suppliers who help us achieve our national security missions," said Louis Griego, director of Integrated Supply Chain Management. "Our commitment to these collaborations makes our supply chain stronger and more versatile, furthering the economic health of our local, state and national communities."
To better engage with the small business community and create a better understanding about doing business with Sandia, the small business team ramped up its outreach efforts this year. This included holding two in-person small business forums that attracted 570 companies.
Sandia's team also attended 33 local, state and national virtual small business events, helping bring on 381 new small businesses to support Sandia's mission.
"Sandia's small business forums are truly a one-stop shop for local, regional and national small business suppliers interested in working with the Department of Energy," said Sandia small business program manager Zach Mikelson. "The events are free and feature information sessions and booths hosted by Sandia subcontracting professionals; other Department of Energy labs, plants, and sites; as well as many local and national small business resources. If businesses are interested in working with Sandia or within the DOE, our small business forum is the place to be."
TRGR and NMSBA
Small businesses also benefited from Sandia's vast expertise and state-of-the-art equipment and facilities at no cost to them through the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program and the TRGR Technology Readiness Initiative. Sandia supported 133 businesses through the NMSBA program, investing $2.3 million. They also supported 12 projects through the TRGR program, providing $502,177 in technical assistance.
Remote Well Solutions Project
One of the NMSBA projects partnered Sandia with Cloudcroft-based company Remote Well Solutions. The collaboration aimed to better provide water to livestock in remote areas of the Navajo Nation.
Traditionally, ranchers on the Navajo Nation relied on windmills to fill their tanks. With Sandia's help, Remote Well Solutions paired its technology with solar power and a network of piping to move water to additional tanks as far as five miles away and ensure those tanks stay full. This solution reduces the distance livestock must travel for water, prevents overgrazing and eliminates the need to haul water by vehicle, reducing the carbon footprint.
For ranchers on the Navajo Nation, the project has been life-changing.
"We own a ranch in Lincoln County and know water challenges firsthand," said Mike Lisk, owner of Remote Well Solutions. "We felt very motivated to solve this problem, not just for ourselves but for others facing the same struggles. No one needed it more than our Navajo neighbors."
mPower's DragonSCALES
A success story resulting from the TRGR program involves MPower Technology, a solar cell and power company that licensed technology from Sandia National Laboratories to develop DragonSCALES. These photovoltaic arrays are interconnected cells of highly efficient silicon that can be meshed into any shape. DragonSCALES have multiple applications, with mPower initially focused on the space and aerospace markets.
mPower's products are already in use on low-Earth orbit satellites, and through two TRGR projects, mPower has made further improvements and refinements to their next-generation solar technology which will support two large satellite constellations currently in the planning stages.
Patents and Licenses
In 2024, Sandia saw growth in the number of patents and licenses filed, all of which involve new technologies developed at the Labs.
Sandia obtained 123 new patents, submitted 202 patent applications and holds 507 active commercial licenses for its technology.
Helping the community
Although it is not quantified in Sandia's economic impact report, employees also contribute to the community in other ways, including donating their time and skills to help those in need.
In 2024, Sandia employees volunteered 1,167 hours at Roadrunner Food Bank, surpassing any other organization or group in New Mexico. They also undertook a number of service projects, including building beds for children in partnership with the organization Sleep in Heavenly Peace near Sandia's California location.
Through the annual Sandia Gives campaign, employees generously donated more than $4 million to the United Way of North Central New Mexico, $20,000 to Roadrunner Food Bank and $20,000 to a program providing shoes for children in the community.
Volunteering also extends to leading STEM education initiatives in the community. In 2024, Sandia employees introduced 10,000 children to STEM careers.
For additional details, refer to Sandia's 2024 Economic Impact Brochure.
