Guadalajara's history as a leader in technological development dates back to the 1960s, during the period known as the "Mexican miracle", when multinationals such as IBM, Kodak, Motorola, General Electric, Hewlett Packard, and Intel, among others, began to arrive in this city, triggering a change in Jalisco’s economy and over the years consolidating it as the Mexican Silicon Valley, the pioneer innovation and technology ecosystem in Mexico.
In the 1960’s Guadalajara knew how to take advantage of Mexico's economic and industrial growth to attract large multinationals.
"The multinationals that began to arrive in Mexico in the 1960s found in the State of Jalisco and its capital, Guadalajara, a very propitious environment to operate and grow for several reasons, among them its human capital with which they could work on high-tech projects. I believe that companies began to realize that the state is a suitable place because of its geographic location, its work climate and, especially, because of the talent available,” declares Mr. Alfonso Pompa Padilla, Secretary of Innovation, Science and Technology of the State of Jalisco.
In the city of Guadajalara, also known as the 'Perla Tapatía', leading global technology companies have set up shop. “In the area of information systems software we have companies like Oracle with approximately 1,400 engineers working in software development. In the electronics area we have Intel with about 1,500 engineers working in chip design. We also have Continental and Bosh, which have technological development campuses. This has strengthened the name of Jalisco, especially the Guadalajara Metropolitan Zone, identified as the Mexican Silicon Valley,” the official comments.
Likewise, he points out that universities have also played an important role in the consolidation of Guadalajara as the Mexican Silicon Valley. "The University of Guadalajara (UDG) and the Autonomous University of Guadalajara already existed in the 1960s. Later came universities such as the Panamericana, the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente (ITESO), the Universidad Católica (UNIVA), the Tecnológico de Monterrey, among others, and an ecosystem began to form in which students are prepared in electronics, computer science, and mechatronics, as well as in other related engineering areas, including business management. And, of course, then came companies that are emblematic in Jalisco: HP and IBM, which, although they have changed their strategies worldwide, continue to have a very strong base of operation in the Metropolitan Zone of Guadalajara.”
Mr. Alfonso Pompa Padilla says that the high-tech industry ecosystem in Jalisco has worked hand in hand with universities and the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV), whose strength is its graduate programs in electronics, in addition to the fact that it is located near Intel. "Universities and research centers have made a strong partnership to gather the human capital required to create the fields of technological development."
High-tech industrial base and new startups
Mexico's Silicon Valley has developed a high-tech industrial base that includes high-end electronic and mechatronic components for biomedicine, health, consumer, automotive, industrial, and aerospace industries.
"With the spillover of knowledge and human capital, local companies have also emerged that have successfully grown in the area of information systems or software, such as Qualtop and iTexico, among many others that are doing a great job. Another leading company is Amdocs, of Israeli origin. So, we practically have an ecosystem similar to Silicon Valley in terms of a great variety of both international and national companies and startups, as well as an ecosystem of universities and research centers that are working hand in hand with the companies," stresses Mr. Alfonso Pompa Padilla.
“We practically have an ecosystem similar to Silicon Valley in terms of a great variety of both international and national companies and startups, as well as an ecosystem of universities and research centers that are working hand in hand with the companies." Alfonso Pompa Padilla, Secretary of Innovation, Science and Technology of the State of Jalisco.
Financial technology (fintech) companies such as Kueski and ‘100 ladrillos’ have also emerged in Guadalajara. In addition, in the electronic devices sector there is a notable development through companies such as InterLatin with its equipment for manufacturing 4.0. In the software area, Assetel develops intelligent traffic lights, one of them recently installed in Tequila, Jalisco.
"Neurona Labs, Avansis, in short, there is a very vibrant ecosystem, very alive with new startups, and the creative industries are also growing. In Ciudad Creativa Digital, computer equipment and artificial intelligence are used, and not only video games or film animation are made, they also work for the advertising and communication industry," the official explains.
The high-tech ecosystem of technological entrepreneurship in Jalisco has been consolidated over the years and has fostered the creation of talent at the height of global needs. "Software developments for different applications of artificial intelligence, fintech, systems for health management, creative industries, and particularly electronics, the development of software, and devices that include electronics, biomedicine, and mechatronics stand out. Also in agrobusiness there is a very big growth in Jalisco,” concludes the head of the Secretariat of Innovation, Science and Technology of the State of Jalisco.
