 "Photo: Callie Richmond")
The technology sector in Mexico is growing due to a collaboration between UT and Mexico and the increased availability of jobs in Mexico and the U.S., according to a panel discussion on campus Wednesday.
The Mexican Center and the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies hosted "The Next Stages of U.S.-Mexico Collaboration in Science and Technology panel," which included U.S. and Mexican specialists discussing University initiatives to create jobs and wealth.
One of the initiatives the University helped launch is TechBA, which attracts established Mexican technology businesses to Austin and gives them office space and support for expansion in U.S. and international markets.
"It is a romanticized idea that people do science and technology in garages," said Luis Medina, CEO of TechBA and one of the panelists. "It is people cooperating and working together."
IC2 institute, a global commercialization research program provides training and experience for the technology program, Medina said. IC2 also brings prestige and networking opportunities for the Mexican companies, he said.
TechBA works to make business attractive in Mexico and helps them expand to America, he said.
"A mental change is needed within Mexican businesses, to expand to the U.S.," Medina said. "Americans may think Mexico is outsourcing jobs, but we are creating jobs and wealth."
TechBA in Austin is starting out working with 16 companies which specialize in software, semiconductors, telecommunications, biomedical and information technologies, and energy, according to the program's Web site.
"The effort of the panel discussion is to promote the University's collaboration with Mexico," said Paloma Diaz, the program coordinator.
The University also implemented a program with Mexico's National Council for Science, which encourages the creation of high tech enterprises, and a program with the state of Nuevo Leon called INVITE, which helps Mexican entrepreneurs develop commercialization strategies and find business partners in the U.S.
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