Strengthening innovation and competitiveness through cooperation between European and Latin American regions
Mar 27, 2015
Strengthening innovation and
competitiveness through cooperation
between European and Latin American
regions
Geographic location
Territorial extension 184,934 km2 / 71,403 sq mi
Border line 592 km / 368 mi
Coast line 1,207 km / 750 mi
Population (2005) 2.3 million
Economically active 955,161
Median age 23
Northwest of Mexico, bordering with Arizona, USA and the states of Baja California, Chihuahua and Sinaloa in Mexico
There is rapid population growth in US regions near Sonora border.
Pacific rim economies
Economic performance2004 2005 2006 2007
Economic growth % 7.2 5.7 6 5.4
Job creation # 29,624 30,760 31,992 31,176
Foreign direct investment
M USD 638.6 1,838 137.85 544.4
Per capita income USD 6,200 7,900 8,300 9,100
Employment by economic sectorFrom 2006 to 2008:Sonora advanced 24 positions in a nationwide ranking for Economic stability (going from position 30 in 2006 to position 6 in 2008).
Growth of 81% in fixed and mobile phone penetration.
An increase of 64% in the number of Internet users.
The public expenditure on investment growth 45%
Sonora’s competitiveness agenda (Sectors)
• Knowledge-based economy• Automotive and aerospace• High technology and biotech• Information and communication technologies• Mining• Tourism• Energy
Internationalisation (Forum di Torino, Sonora-Arizona Commission for regional competitiveness, expanding partnerships through Europe and Asia)
Productive sector growth trough innovation infrastructure and knowledge development
Enhance research
capabilities
Develop and attract high-
qualified people
More access to research centers for
industry
Increase the number of
collaboration networks
Public policy to foster industry
development
Better access to knowledge
and technology
Sonora’s Competitiveness Agenda
Strength state-wide human capital system
Develop international networks and collaborative
projects
Increased regional capability on innovation and competitiveness
S e c t o r s
Forum di Torino:Facilitating innovation efforts
through international cooperation
• Sonora: A founder member of FdT.
• FdT serves as a gateway between LatAm and European regions.
• Our strategy aims to increase collaboration with European regions.
• An increase in FDT member regions is expected for 2009, bringing more collaboration opportunities.
Sonora State projects with European Regions
• Aquiculture & Seaculture with Galicia (ES)– EU – Mexico Aquiculture Network– MoU with INTERCO Aquitaine– European regions’ companies accessed to distribution
networks in USA– Joint projects to improve organic breeding capabilities
• Viticulture– Technical visits that resulted in collaboration projects
with France companies
• Forest– MoU with CIS Madeira in Galicia (ES)– Joint research project among European and Mexican
universities and R&D centres
Sonora State projects with European Regions (cont’d)
• Specific interest Tourism– The Sea of Cortes (Sonora’s coastline) has served for many
years as a research area for R&D centres and agencies from Europe.
• Water & Environment– Joint research project in remote sensing, GIS (Geo-referenced
information system), hydrology... with Institut de recherche pour le développement (France).
– Irrigation water management project funded by EC (6thFP)
• Agribusiness– Joint project with University of Almeria (ES) in Mexico. Almeria
Producers’ letter of intention to invest €1 million in protected agricultural crops in Sonora.
Others sectors of interest for collaborative projects
• Biotechnology
• Agribusiness
• Information and communication technologies
• Logistics
• Alternative energies
• Alternative tourism
European and Latin America RegionsWorking together long time ago... with a big potential to growth
• There are many joint research opportunities.
• Business opportunities arise as a result of research and development projects.
• Latin America has complementarities in terms of human and natural resources for European research and development projects.
• Emerging sectors (such as aerospace, biotech, ICT, etc.) are receiving governments’ support and funding.