STPs and AOIs as economic drivers of their communities at IASP Monterrey

Energizing places, international collaboration and growth strategies were top of the agenda at IASP Monterrey, the joint event of the IASP Latin American and North American divisions that took place from 19-21 April in Monterrey, Mexico.

Organized by PIIT Monterrey, the event brought together IASP members, practitioners and experts from across both American continents under the main theme "Getting to the next level: STPs & AOIs as economic drivers in their communities." Activities began with a welcome reception on April 19, giving attendees the chance to meet, relax and network: IASP Monterrey marks the first dedicated in-person meeting since the pandemic for both divisions.

As the programme got under way, delegates were officially welcomed to an intense day of knowledge sharing by both division Presidents, Juan Pablo Suárez (Ecuador) and Carol Stewart (USA), IASP CEO Ebba Lund and José Alfredo Pérez Bernal, director of host PIIT Monterrey.

Sessions focused on strategies to boost local innovation ecosystems with insights from Brazil, Canada and the USA, and a new approach to entrepreneur-led economic development that puts energy behind the innovative people already living in the community. The programme also took an in-depth look at IASP’s Inspiring Solutions programme, with three past finalists sharing insights on how they developed and implemented their bright ideas: an initiative to increase the visibility of women, a hackathon to find solutions for local challenges and a sponsored launch to help new businesses get off the ground. Collaboration beyond borders was also a key topic, with a focus on the US-Mexico context, as well as a session comparing and contrasting growth strategies from different countries in the region.

The event also offered the opportunity to experience Mexican hospitality and culture: over dinner at the historic Casona de Santa Lucia in Monterrey’s old city centre, attendees sampled local gastronomy, and were serenaded by a mariachi band. The taste of the traditional contrasted with the cutting-edge in a technical tour of the PIIT site the following day, where they had the chance to meet innovative local companies and gain insights into the regional innovation ecosystem.

Operated by the Nuevo León Institute for Innovation and Technology Transfer, PIIT is located just 20 minutes from the centre of the city of Monterrey, with easy access to the two main commercial land routes to the United States. It is home to the Nanotech and Biotech incubators, Schneider, the Research Centre for Advanced Materials and the Centre for Engineering and Industrial design, all of which opened their doors to delegates to showcase their work.

Members of the two divisions are already looking ahead to their 2024 meetings, with McMaster Innovation Park (Hamilton, Canada) looking forward to hosting their North American colleagues, and Tecnopuc (Porto Alegre, Brazil), ready to welcome the Latin American division. Watch this space for further details!