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Innovation

SEptember 4, 2006 / Number 5

 

A way of life

By Antonio Zárate

Even though many people think that the Research and Technology Innovation Park (PIIT) is "the City of Knowledge," that is not so. The Monterrey, International City of Knowledge program is much more than a real estate development; it is a strategic alliance between the key players in society and the government to generate economic growth through innovation.

The PIIT's pillars are the Universities and the Private Sector, which, together with the Government, form what is known as "the triple helix" that generates economic growth.

The Monterrey, International City of Knowledge program consists of six strategies:

  1. To redesign the agenda for the Nuevo Leon educational system.
  2. To attract research centers and innovation and technological development businesses.
  3. To promote innovation in existing businesses
  4. To create new innovative businesses
  5. To increase urban and cultural equipping.
  6. To spread the new culture.

PIIT is a key player for strategies 2 and 4.

Of course, attracting research centers and creating new businesses is not limited to PIIT.

This park complements the actions already carried out by various institutions and businesses during the last 18 months. For example, the creation of 15 research and development centers in the metropolitan area, by UANL, ITESM, and UDEM. To this, we have to add three high-tech incubators and an equal number of centers for product design in manufacturing companies.

All this has been possible because Nuevo Leon has excellent intellectual capital.

Then, what additional value is offered by PIIT?

We can summarize it as follows:

  • Promoting the link between universities and businesses through research and development centers.
  • Optimize the use of resources by sharing common equipment.
  • Creating the "Medici Effect" that consists of the interaction of researchers from different centers and specialties in order to accelerate innovation. In the end, this will drive the country's growth.

No doubt, all of this will have a positive impact on a new way of life for the benefit of the people of Nuevo Leon and the rest of the Mexican people.

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Research and Technology Innovation Park

The Encounter of Two Worlds

The PIIT will concentrate Universities, Businesses, and Science and Technology Centers in the same space, thus fostering applied research and innovation development.

The integration of research and innovation development players has a name in Nuevo Leon: Research and Technology Innovation Park (PIIT).

This park, which links knowledge with economic development, brings together universities, businesses, and specialized centers of science and technology.

"We want research to be very down to earth, and to respond to the needs of businesses and society," said Reynold Gonzalez-Lozano, an executive at the Innovation and Technology Transfer Institute, who is in charge of developing the PIIT.

This can only be accomplished when researchers, academicians, technologists, and entrepreneurs work in the same place.

The PIIT, located on a 170-acre plot of land (70 hectares), is the result of a joint effort of the Nuevo Leon State Government, the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL), the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM), the Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM), and the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT).

Businesses and institutions will focus their activities on biotechnology, nanotechnology, mechatronics, health, and information and communications technologies, which are fundamental for the enhancement of the country's comprehensive development.

Gonzalez-Lozano points out that PIIT is part of the global strategy of the Monterrey, International City of Knowledge program because economic growth depends on investments made in research, development, and innovation (R + D + I).

"Presently, businesses make use of various schemes in order to generate innovations. Many of them solve their problems with their own resources; others seek for the help of external consultants; some opt for technological partnerships; and there are also cases of businesses hiring the services of foreign universities to carry out specific research," he explains.

With PIIT, entrepreneurs will have access to the talent of research centers, since the park will have leading-edge infrastructure, laboratories, qualified human resources, and a favorable environment for innovation.

This project will also benefit the Universities, since they will not have to invest in real estate or basic infrastructure, since these resources are supplied by the Government of the State of Nuevo Leon.

Additionally, they will be located close to their potential clients, which are the businesses, and they will work in an environment of exchange and mutual enrichment in the areas of knowledge and experiences.

 

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A Custom-made Park

PIIT's first stage is being developed in a 74-acre (30-hectare) area representing an investment of approximately one billion Mexican pesos.

Of this amount, 400 million will be provided by the Nuevo Leon State Government to be used for land and infrastructure.

The following are the institutions and businesses that will operate in the Park:

Center for Innovation, Research and Development in Engineering and Technology (CIIDIT)
 This UANL organism is scheduled to begin operations in January, 2007. It will concentrate on advanced materials, nanotechnology, mechatronics, information technology, software, electronics, safety and risks.

 

Engineering and Industrial Development Center (CIDESI)
It is part of CONACYT and is in the construction stage. It will develop technology to be used in design and manufacturing of assembly lines, machinery, and applied electronics for industries in various fields.

 

Center for Research on Advanced Materials (CIMAV))
It is also part of CONACYT, and operates along four strategic lines: scientific research, development of human resources, links, and technology transfer.

Center for Research and Strategic Design of Products (CIDEP)
Through this organism, the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM) will carry out research on methodologies and tools for innovation and design, as well as strategic studies of new markets.
It will also support small and medium manufacturing businesses so that they create their own products.

Center of Advanced Packing Technology
This concept was developed by UDEM in collaboration with the University of Michigan. Its objective is to develop innovations in product design and engineering, bottling, canning, and packing.

Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV)
As a center dependent on the Ministry of Public Education, it will carry out scientific and technological research; it will also develop specialized researchers and professors.

Software Cluster
It will bring together 42 small and medium software development companies. Around 1500 people will be working in this conglomerate.

IDZ
It is a private company that specializes in research and development of radio frequency ID (RFID), a technology that will replace bar codes.

Integral Center for Technological Development of Furniture (CIDETEM)
It belongs to the Association of Furniture Manufacturers of Nuevo Leon (AFAMNL). This organism already exists, but it requires more modern and functional facilities, in order to improve the quality of furniture regarding design, materials, functionality, and durability.

Water Institute of Nuevo Leon
This is a decentralized public organism that will carry out research to develop and market innovative technologies for water treatment and recycling. This institute will also operate PIIT’s water treatment plant.

 

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Promoting Financing for Technological Businesses

The invitation is out, the door is open, the resources are available, and the quickest way to have access to them is through the Monterrey, International City of Knowledge program.

Those entrepreneurs who are willing to develop technology-based, viable and innovative businesses have two allies: the Innovation and Technology Transfer Institute (I 2T 2) and Nacional Financiera (National Financing) (NAFIN).


 

"We have the CONACYT-NAFIN Entrepreneurs Program to support recently created businesses and long-standing companies with the capacity to launch high value added businesses based on technological development," states Alfonso Ramos, Director of Nacional Financiera's Northeastern Region.

Some of the sectors eligible for the program are: advanced materials, electronics and telecommunications, information technology, the environment, energy, and health.

Regarding this, the financing offered by NAFIN and CONACYT is in line with the strategies of the Monterrey, International City of Knowledge program. This affinity was the starting point for the signing of a collaboration agreement in September 2005.

"The resources are available, but it is crucial that entrepreneurs devise adequately supported business plans and have a medium-term vision for development," says Ramos.

The National Council for Science and Technology provides financial resources and its capacity to evaluate businesses from a technological perspective. On the other hand, NAFIN participates in economic validation by determining the feasibility of the business model. The program includes technological, financial, and legal assistance to strengthen the competitive position of new business lines.

For entrepreneurs in need of capital, NAFIN has an investment fund in which CONACYT also participates.

"A partnership has been created in which we contribute with the equivalent of 20% of the company's capital, or 7 million Mexican pesos, which is the maximum total," specifies Ramos.

He says that it is important for entrepreneurs to know the support options and to choose the one that will guarantee a solid and sustained growth.

Those who want to know the financing plans in depth need only to visit the offices of the Monterrey, International City of Knowledge program.

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FUTURE EVENTS

SEPTEMBER 4-7
1 st Latin American Congress on Technological Innovation
 AMETRIZ
Puebla , Pue.

SEPTEMBER 5
Capital Funds for Private Enterprises
IMEF, Country Club

SEPTEMBER 12-15
20 TH ANEAS National Convention
Water Institute, Cintermex

SEPTEMBER 19
Signing of the Agreement between the University of Texas and Monterrey, International City of Knowledge

SEPTEMBER 20-24
BioMonterrey 2006
COCYTE, Cintermex

 

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Monterrey, International City of Knowledge: an alliance of the government, universities,

 

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