Abstract:

Several organizations concur that there is a strong and positive correlation between innovation and economic growth, and that scientific production and technological development are some of the most important instruments to achieve the social, economic, cultural and political transformation of a region [1]. Therefore, it is important to focus a big part of the efforts to boost the use of science, technology and innovation (STI) in the productive sectors in Mexico, and the industrial clusters, which are comprised of academia, industry and government in Nuevo Leon, are a very efficient mean to multiply the impact.

Through clusters, research centers, academic institutions and companies can take advantage of positive externalities and build capacities that entities outside the group could find difficult to generate, like joint projects, innovation or collaboration networks, and knowledge transfer, among others [2].

Academic institutions are key actors in clusters, since their students could become researchers and inventors that will integrate the stock of specialists and researchers in charge of the applied science, technology and innovation capacities in the country. Very few times students get to apply their knowledge in real life projects, so giving them this chance could give them the opportunity to solve demands of the market and the society with their own skills.

The project “Innovation and patent workshops with strategic clusters in Nuevo León” focuses on the above. It helps to boost applied science projects, innovation and the application of technology to solve real problems that benefit the industry and thus, society and the economy. At the same time, it promotes STI vocations among higher level students, and seize upon the triple helix and inter-cluster collaboration.

The project is implemented with the participation of some of the 13 strategic clusters in Nuevo Leon [3]. They invite companies within their cluster to present challenges or industry demands to the participant students, based on which the students develop projects that address those challenges. The projects are developed by multidisciplinary teams, including students from different careers, universities and levels (graduate and post-graduate), and they are requested to deliver an oral presentation and a document based on the patent request form. With the collaboration of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property, the students are trained in industrial property, technology search and patent development the first day, and work in the chosen challenge 4 days to present their project as a patent ready to be registered at the end of the week.

This paper explains the methodology from its planning to its implementation, based on the triple helix collaboration, and how this boosts its impacts in the short and long term.

References:
[1] Interinstitutional program for the strengthening of research and graduate studies in the Pacific region. Retrieved from https://www.programadelfin.com.mx/
[2] Becerra-Rodríguez, F., & Naranjo-Valencia, J. (2008). “Technological innovation in the context of regional clusters””. Cuad. Admn. Bogotá, Colombia, 21 (37), 133-159, July-December of 2008.
[3] Strategic clusters in Nuevo Leon are: Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Aerospace, Health, Automotive, Home appliances, IT and Software, Multimedia and creative industries, Tooling, Sustainable housing, Agribusinesses, Energy and Tourism.

Keywords:

Innovation, Patents, Clusters, Industry-Academia-Government collaboration.