Abstract:

Mexico has a significant opportunity to attract companies looking to relocate near the United States (US) market. These companies will need clean electricity, natural gas, water, rule of law, reduced corruption, improved security, and talent. Although Mexico has talent, it lacks the specialized technicians and engineers required. Companies like Honeywell, Volkswagen, and Build Your Dreams are interested in relocating to Mexico, needing high-tech suppliers and specialized skills. Engineers are crucial for their success and technological innovations. Mexico faces the challenge of quickly training top-level technicians and engineers as companies started relocating post-COVID-19. This requires changes in study programs and infrastructure improvements in higher education institutions. Specialized technicians and engineers need to be prepared in two phases: first, to meet the needs of incoming companies in manufacturing sectors like semiconductors, lithium and sodium batteries, electric vehicles, and hydrogen powered vehicles, and second, to develop new high-tech products. Retraining engineers in low-paid jobs would also help. Identifying in-demand engineering careers and specific competencies is crucial. Engineering schools should consider whether to introduce new programs or enhance their existing ones. Additionally, they must choose between expanding graduate studies and developing new, appealing career paths. Mexico needs a significant push in high-tech development, similar to the US's Sputnik moment. Mexico can also leverage qualified professionals who have left the country, talent from South America and the Caribbean, and foreign talent working remotely in Mexico [1]. Universities for high-tech development should be established in regions with relocating companies, and partnerships with companies should be created for practical learning. Foreign companies could establish research institutes. New initiatives should offer high-tech programs, with distance learning courses from prestigious universities like Caltech and MIT. Private companies could fund necessary laboratories to prepare students for manufacturing new technologies. These efforts aim to generate talent for private companies to sell to the US market, not necessarily for Mexico's development. However, there are other scenarios based on Mexico's political landscape. In the first scenario, Mexico aligns closely with the US. In the second scenario, Mexico distances itself from the US and aligns with countries like Brazil, Russia, India, and China, should the West decline [2]. In the third scenario, Mexico maintains its current commercial relations. Additionally, the paper briefly analyzes the plans of the new Mexican Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation, which will start with the new government on October 1, 2024. This paper explains these scenarios in detail, discusses changes to study programs, summarizes the economic development strategies of other countries, and examines the role of science, technology, and engineering.

References:
[1] D. Salazar and S. Osorio, Latinoamérica expulsa su talento a países más ricos, pero el salario no es lo único que pesa, Bloomberg Línea, June 26, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberglinea.com/2024/06/26/latinoamerica-expulsa-su-talento-a-paises-mas-ricos-pero-el-salario-no-es-lo-unico-que-pesa/
[2] E. Todd, La derrota de occidente. Madrid/España: Ediciones Akal, 2024.

Keywords:

Education, innovation, engineering, nearshoring.