Towards a Future Internet Vision in Mexico through the
Cooperation with the E.U. for Innovation
Agenda Overview
The Mexican Technology Platform (MTP) and NAFINSA organized the event
Towards a Future Internet Vision in Mexico through the Cooperation with the
E.U. for Innovation that took place on the 23rd of February of 2012 in the
NAFINSA headquarters. The MTP invited representatives of the European
Commission, European Technology Platforms, Project FIRST, Project
AMERICAS, representatives of European Living Labs, and key stakeholders of
the Mexican SME innovation ecosystem.
The inaugural session presidium was formed by leaders of government economic
development organizations, Academia and industry. Héctor Rangel, President of
NAFINSA, inaugurated the event with a welcome message on behalf of the host
institution, briefly introducing the current Mexican economic environment.
Lorenza Martínez, Undersecretary of Industry and Commerce and President of
Innovation Policy of the Federal Government presented the vision and strategy
behind the Federal Government for innovation policy. Arturo Molina, Vice
President of Research, Entrepreneurship and Social Development of the
Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM), described the strong support that the
ITESM has given to MTP, his vision on innovation and the role that the ITESM
Legacy Program can play to foster innovation and generate economic
development and social impacts; Carlos Guzman, President of PROMEXICO,
the Mexican internationalization agency, presented initiatives, programs and
examples of what Mexico is doing to participate in the global economy, fostering
innovation, trade and cooperation. Leonardo Rios, on behalf of the President of
the National Science and Technology Council (CONACYT), described the
various programs that the Council has to foster innovation and mentioned
examples of international cooperation with Europe; Avelino Cortizo on behalf of
COPARMEX s President, described the position of the Mexican industry to
actively participate and acquire a leadership position in the innovation process
cooperating with Government and Academia. Juan de Dios Barba, President of
the Mexico City Economic and Social Development Council, and Julio Mendoza,
President of the Mexico City Institute of Science and Technology, extended Mr.
Rangels welcome message on behalf of the Mexico City Government as the
host city of this relevant event and mentioned what one of the largest cities in the
world is doing to create a global digital culture.
The second part of the event focused on the implementation of the Latin
American Technology Platforms. Julian Seseña, Coordinator of Project FIRST,
presented the objectives and results of this Project funded by the Seventh
Framework Programme. Guillermo Safa, President of the MTP, presented an
overview of the MTP and introduced leaders of the MTP Working Groups NESSIMEX, NEM-MEX, eMOBILITY-MEX, ARTEMIS-MEX and eHEALTH-MEX who
briefly described each one of their platforms.
Klaus Pendl, head of the DG Information and Media Society- International
Relations of the European Commission shared his experience supporting the
implementation of the Latin American Technology Platforms and his vision on
cooperation with the EU in ITC and Future Internet as a strategic opportunity
supported by the EU and closed this session presenting conclusions about
achievements of the Mexican Technology Platforms and their relevance to foster
cooperation with the EU.
Pierre-Yves Danet, UE Networking Electronic Media (NEM) European
Technology Platform Vice Chair in charge of Strategy, presented “The impact of
ICT in Grand Societal Challenges” sharing activities and outcomes of the NEM
Technology Platform that is helping to position Europe in new-media based
global economy. This presentation shows the relevance of one of the leading
technology platforms defined by the European 7th Framework Program.
Yolanda Ursa, Coordinator of Project AMERICAS talked about AMERICAS’s
plans to provide continuity to the implementation of the Latin American
Technology Platforms over the next two years and the opportunities open for
Mexico through cooperation with the UE.
Horacio Rivera-Piza, VP of Technology of the IFC of the World Bank presented
the Mexico First Project, the new 2012-2015 ITC strategy of World Bank and an
objective perspective on the position of Mexico in ITC and innovation within these
regional initiatives. Mr. Rrivera-Piza mentioned the relevance that ITC and
innovation cooperation between countries and regions has for future World
Bank’s regional development programs.
The “SME Innovation Ecosystem” Round Table focused on presenting ongoing
programmes and initiatives of key SME development government organizations,
funding and other resources available for innovation, Government innovation
policy, industry association innovation initiatives, Academia and thematic
networks, ITC Clusters and the National Digital Agenda. Members of the Round
table presented a diversified overview of how this ecosystem is developing in
Mexico. There was a Q&A session at the end in which members of the panel
responded to various questions asked by the audience. One question asked was
about how Mexican Government cooperates with industry and Academia to
define its innovation policy. Panel members answered under different
perspectives, making clear the will to collaborate and create inclusive innovation
policy, there was work ahead but the foundation is already established. There
was general consensus on all parties openness not only for collaborative
participation to foster innovation in Mexico, but also to cooperate with other
countries as part of the evolution process.
In the afternoon session, a diversified panel of experts presented the Living Lab
concept as a strategic resource that can generate short-term social impacts and
bilateral cooperation. Alfredo Sanchez, Coordinator of Living Labs of the MTP,
Carmen Agüero, Scientific and Academic Director of the MTP Secretariat, and
Andre Loechel, President of Territories of Tomorrow in France, moderated the
Seminar Living Labs as a Tool for Open and Disruptive Innovation . The
audience learned about the Living Labs methodology, examples of existing Living
Labs in Europe and Latin America, how a Living Lab works and its potential
impacts on civil society. Members of the panel identified profiles, use cases and
potential synergies that can be found in Mexican innovation spaces and existing
Living Labs in Europe and Latin America. Some use cases were the Off-Road
Memory Lab and the ImaginLab of France; the Territories of Tomorrow Living
Lab network of innovation spaces; and the Tecnocampus Mataro of Spain and
the Antioquia Living Lab of Colombia. The representative for Scientific
Cooperation of the Embassy of France in Mexico talked about innovation use
cases conducted as part of established cooperation initiatives between the two
countries. The audience asked multiple questions to the panel as well as to the
speakers from Spain and Colombia who participated via videoconference.
Alfredo Sanchez, described the Knowledge Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise
Living Lab proposal to create a Mexican network of innovation spaces focused
on bilateral cooperation with Living Labs in Europe and Latin America to produce
tangible benefits on the SME as a key pillar of regional economic development.
Mr. Sanchez described how the innovation generated by this Lab matches
several 7th Framework Program priority thematic areas on Future internet and
described some impacts this MTP initiative will have on Government-Academiaindustry and civil society.
Klaus Pendl, head of the DG Information and Media Society- International
Relations of the European Commission expressed his support to the Mexican
Technology Platform’s Living Lab and shared his vision of a future Latin
American Living Lab network that will strengthen regional cooperation with
Europe and will produce clear benefits to all participating countries.
Closing remarks were presented by the representatives of the triple helix that
form part of the Mexican SME innovation ecosystem: (i) representing
Government: Héctor Sámano, head of the European Union cooperation office at
CONACYT; (ii) representing Academia, Mariano Gamboa of the CINVESTAV
research center in charge of ITC and member of the Management Council of
LANCAD, the Mexican supercomputing network; and, (iii) representing Industry:
Jorge Buitrón, VP of the Mexican Technology Platform and President of the
National Software Clusters Council.
To finalize the seminar, there was a Networking session at the NAFINSA
auditorium lobby.