Innovation

July 07, 2008 | Year 3 | Number 26

A way of life

By Jaime Parada

There is an increasing awareness that there is no contradiction between collaboration and competition.  Today’s nuevoleonian business people are aware of it and are betting on partnerships and “coopetition.”

With the start of the Nanotechnology Cluster, established as a non-profit organization (Asociación Civil), we closed the first stage of integrating a group of strategic partners, i.e., “coopetition” between the three sectors that form the triple helix.  This becomes even more important since nanotechnology is a theme that covers the entire production spectrum whose potential in the world market is more than 50 billion USD and maintains a 23 percent growth rate.

In Nuevo Leon the problem of bringing together political talent, financial resources, and coordinating capacity in the knowledge adventure has been reduced because the local players have bought the idea of making our State the leader in all areas; this is the cornerstone of the Nanotechnology Cluster.

The Government of Nuevo Leon has developed a strategy focused on linking the formation of human capital and scientific R&D to the attraction of productive investments, seeking to take advantage of the window of opportunity that globalization presents.  The formula to achieve this goal is represented by the partnership of 17 local businesses, the CIMAV, Monterrey Tech, UANL, and the University of Arizona who, with the support of the Monterrey, International City of Knowledge Program and SEDEC, are implementing this new “coopetition” action.

This term, proposed by academicians from Harvard and Yale Business Schools, is used to identify a widespread movement in all spheres of the productive sector that is forcing companies to establish links to other related businesses and centers, for the production of intellectual capital in both the cooperation and competition areas.  It is also known as “clusterization,” and it consists of three elements: cooperation, sharing, and competition, which in no way contradict each other.

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RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Make knowledge flow towards competitiveness

Nuevo Leon's world of businesses is experiencing a revolution brought about by a social infrastructure that promotes innovation: universities, R&D centers, and technology parks at the service of entrepreneurs.

Since innovation is a determining factor for competitiveness, an effort is being made to link researchers to businesses and create a very special synergy.

“In Nuevo Leon, we want to go beyond the concept of research and development, we want to support innovation,” pointed out Luis Cardenas, operational director of Monterrey, International City of Knowledge (MICK).

From the moment the present government decided that the source of its growth would be knowledge-based innovation, to this date, there is enough evidence to illustrate that a change in the production culture of the people of Nuevo Leon has occurred.  Events such as the Forum, the integration of more businesses and research centers to the PIIT, and the implementation of new clusters are tangible examples of this change.

Several CONACYT centers are in operation at the PIIT: the CIMAV, the CIDESI, and the soon to be opened CIMAT.  They respond to the need of creating innovations in the State’s strategic growth areas.

Outside the PIIT, there are many businesses of various types and sizes whose departments or R&D centers generate their own knowledge based on their area of interest.  This model is not new, but is now being made accessible to more business persons.

To this date, the Monterrey, International City of Knowledge program is serving the existing sectors, linking the work of researchers from public and private centers to the industry and vice versa, allowing knowledge to flow towards competitiveness.  This is possible with specific support from Mixed Funds, with resources from the State Government or with capital from angel investors or seed capital, in addition to technical assistance for patent registration and/or through courses and seminars that increase the critical mass for specific areas.

Juan Rene Martinez, Coordinator of Operations for MICK, mentioned that it is necessary for small and medium-sized businesses to know the benefits that are available to them through the research systems and the private and public development centers.

“For many small and medium-sized businesses, working with knowledge can increase the value they offer to their consumers,” he said.  This is not difficult to accomplish since consumers are open to work with the suppliers to increase competitiveness.  For more information, write to rene.martinez@mtycic.org.

Julian Martinez, MSc

Developing talent to attract new markets

A group of Prolec GE engineers are developing new models of electric transformers to be used in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric energy.

“Fifteen years ago, General Electric signed a co-investment agreement with Xignux, a Monterrey consortium, expanding this company that now exports its products to more than 30 countries around the world.  Their growth in international markets gradually led them to integrate an engineering development system together with universities such as the Monterrey Tech and the UANL, using their own resources as well as the collaboration of national and foreign technological centers,” mentioned Alfonso Delgado, Technology Manager.

Before the co-investment agreement, we used to work with licenses from the 80s; but in recent years we have been producing our own technology,” he stated.

Delgado explained that this process developed on two fronts.  On the one hand, they have their own Applied Technology Center, where more than 100 individuals work, most of them with specialized Master’s degrees.  On the other hand, about 50 researchers work in various technological centers that operate in the country and abroad.  They are currently working on projects with electronic and nanotechnology elements together with the CIMAV and the CINVESTAV, located in the PIIT.

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A JOURNEY OF SUCCESS

A little over 15 years ago, Cerrey, a boiler manufacturing company with 45 years of history, saw the need to develop its own technology for a process that was carried out at the same time they opened their international market.

For Doctor Isaias Hernandez-Ramirez, Technology Coordinator, one characteristic of innovative companies is that they understand their clients’ needs.

“We have improved our processes and products by adding value, making use of technological tools that are needed to improve our competitiveness,” said the young engineer who obtained his PhD in Holland.

Cerrey is currently producing steam boilers used for the production of oil in Saudi Arabia and other oil-producing countries.

“The need for companies to be competitive in order to stay in the market is one of the characteristics of developed countries.  We have been forced to develop our own technology and channel it into the global market,” he added.

By betting on innovation, they have introduced technological tools that reduce the challenges businesses face regarding steam and power generation.  In order to do this, they require the best intellectual capital.

Cerrey has a 15-member team, all with a high level of education.  In the past, the technology department used to operate under the scheme of an engineering department, but they gradually signed agreements with Monterrey Tech and the UANL in order to hire highly qualified personnel who have the ability to conceptualize, evaluate, analyze tests, and apply methods to innovation systems in the appropriate way.

With their own team and the support of CONACYT’s research centers, they have devoted themselves to the task of forming their own engineers since they are convinced that strengthening the company’s intellectual platform is the basic answer to the economy of knowledge.

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GENERATING INNOVATIONS FOR VEHICLES

In Escobedo, Nuevo Leon, 50 engineers are producing new ideas that, each year, translate into the products developed by Ficosa, a multinational group devoted to research, development, production, and commercialization of systems and components for the automotive industry.

“With more than 60 years of operations, and with its headquarters in Barcelona, Spain, this company now has its operations for North America (United States, Canada, and Mexico) in Escobedo,” explained Aurelio Leal, Director of Operations at the Technical Center.

With a significant budget dedicated to R&D at its Barcelona center, the local operation directly benefits from the transfer of technology.  There is a local innovation team formed by a group of 99 engineers who are developing new ideas and working round-the-clock listening to the voice of the market and preparing activities with potential clients.

Ficosa’s center in Monterrey has its own labs, where they test their products, and an innovation area where they are developing two technologies for new products aimed at increasing comfort in new vehicle models.  They expect to begin production sometime next year.

Leal pointed out that they have been in operation in Monterrey since 1990 in order to take advantage of the city’s technology development potential and capacity and its large number of highly trained engineers.  This enables them to be self-sufficient in the generation of new ideas and products.  At present, they are part of the Automotive Cluster within the sub-committee of suppliers, human resources, and technology transfer.

New Products

La operación del centro tecnológico de Escobedo, aparentemente es sencilla, pero puede tomar hasta dos años para la realización y comercialización de un proyecto, dependiendo de que tan definida tenga el cliente sus necesidades.

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FUTURE EVENTS

JULY 10-11
2008 Clusters International Forum
Location: Blast Furnace "Horno 3". Inside Parque Fundidora.
Ave. Fundidora and Adolfo Prieto, Col. Obrera, Monterrey, 64010.
Information and Registration:
PHONE: +52 (81) 2020-6625
E-mail: jaime.gonzález@nuevoleon.gob.mx
               info@foroclusters.com

OCTUBER 15-17
“BioMonterrey08”
International Congress and Exposition of Biotechnology
Location: Cintermex
Information and Registration:
PHONE: +52 (81) 8123 2932
E-mail: biomonterrey@cocytenl.org
WEB: www.biomonterrey.org.mx

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