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Future of Mexico - Global Hub for Innovation and Investment, Forecast to 2025

  • Country Profile

  • 96 Pages
  • November 2019
  • Region: Global, Mexico
  • Frost & Sullivan
  • ID: 4856445

The Social, Technological, and Economic Factors Influencing a Culture of Innovation and Investment

Mexico’s demographic favorability through the next decade, its focus on education to fully capitalize on the growing working and escalating digital accessibility, and its growing start-up business support mechanisms advocates the expanding Mexico’s culture of innovation. Though Mexico spends less than 1% of GDP in research and development compared to other developed nations like US, Korea and Singapore but the nation has been rapidly rising in the Innovation index compared to other nations over the past few years because of steady reforms and dynamic policies. Doing so has resulted in increasing amounts of VC investment. Increases in technology investment by the Mexican government, coupled with pro-private investment schemes, will encourage multinationals to view Mexico as a viable locale for centers focused on emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and cybersecurity. Because of emerging technologies, traditional industries are reinventing themselves.

Mexico has the opportunity to participate in these reinventions by investing in innovation that can be exported regionally and globally, generating value that will resonate through the coming decades. Mexico has the ability to be the innovation leader in Latin America for emerging industries, such as EV development; 4G/5G telecommunications rollout; and affordable, smart, and green housing; as well as in more established areas, including tourism and medical devices.

The key to Mexico becoming the innovation gateway for Latin America is in nurturing R&D and startup ecosystems that build on the progress Mexico is already making. This study has identified social, technological and economic factors as key contributors to innovation and future investment in Mexico. Demographic factors, education developments, growth of the Mexican middle class, women's contribution to the economy, entrepreneurial and start-up developments in Mexico are some of the social factors contributing to the growing innovation culture in Mexico.

Mexico’s working-age population is expected to peak at approximately 68% in 2033, surpassing the working-age share of the total population for all other LATAM countries. Mexico’s demographic shift is expected to increase the region’s economic prosperity, driving infrastructure development and advancing innovation and technological adoption. Digital indicators like future connectivity trends, government enablement of technology growth, growth in technology innovation areas are some of the technological factors leading to innovation growth in the region. With the largest fintech ecosystem in LATAM (Latin America), Mexico is capable of building multiple start-up hubs in cities such as Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Tijuana. Since 2010, Mexico’s count of tech start-ups has tripled. Economic growth and investment of the region has also fueled the innovation activities. Growth of VC Investment is higher than the regional average- Again Mexico’s score in the US Chamber of Commerce’s International IP Index is above the regional average, this is mainly driven by government efforts to increase the importance of IP rights - a critical factor in attracting and retaining start-ups. This study also includes geographical mapping of various Mexican state hot spots ripe for innovation activities.


Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary
  • Executive Summary - Key Findings
  • Social Factors -  Mexico to Benefit from Demographic Tailwinds
  • Social Factors - The Mexican Middle Class to Surge in the Next Decade
  • VC Investment will Continue to Pick up Speed
  • The Innovation Environment Across Economies
  • Key Factors Boosting Innovation in Mexico
  • Future Connectivity Trends Leading to Mexico’s Digital Transformation
  • Top Technology Innovation Areas
  • Digital will Transform Mexico’s Industries, Creating a Vibrant Ecosystem for Tech Start-ups
  • The Future of Industry in Mexico
  • Innovation Benefits of Emerging and Growing Industries
  • Future of Mexican States - Mapping of State Hot Spots Ripe for Innovation Activities
  • Investing in Mexico’s Innovation Future will Yield Significant Dividends


2. Social Factors Driving Innovation
  • Social Trends - Three Defining Indicators
  • Social Factors - Mexico to Benefit from Demographic Tailwinds
  • Mexico to have the Highest Working Age Population Share in LATAM
  • Mexico’s Education Sector - Education Policy Outlook
  • Digital Skills to Continue Growing in Mexico
  • Social Factors - The Mexican Middle Class to Surge in the Next Decade
  • Women Economy Rising in Mexico
  • VC Investment will Continue to Pick up Speed
  • Mexico’s Start-up Culture is Helping to Build LATAM’s Silicon Valley
  • The Innovation Environment Across Economies
  • Innovation Clusters Explained
  • Key Indicators for Emerging Innovators
  • Indicators for Emerging Innovators - Comparative Analysis
  • Key Factors Boosting Innovation in Mexico
  • R&D Investment is Low but Supported by the New Administration
  • New Business Growth is Accelerating in Mexico
  • Mexico is Leading LATAM in Global IP Protection
  • Patents and IP Commercialization are Highlights
  • Social Trends Driving Innovation - Key Implications


3. Technological Factors Driving Innovation
  • Technological Trends - Three Defining Indicators
  • Digital Mexico has Evolved Significantly in the Past 10 Years
  • Future Connectivity Trends Leading to Mexico’s Digital Transformation
  • Mexico’s National Digital Strategy to Augment its Digital Ecosystem
  • Tech Investment by the Mexican Government has Increased Significantly
  • Top Technology Innovation Areas
  • The AI Revolution will Accelerate the Progress of Innovation
  • Big Data is Fast Approaching the Billion-Dollar Mark in Mexico
  • Cybersecurity Presents Opportunities for Specialized Innovation
  • Advanced Manufacturing is Critical to Mexico’s Future
  • Mexico’s IoT Ecosystem will Converge with Emerging Tech
  • The IIoT is Entering All Major Verticals
  • Digital will Transform Mexico’s Industries, Creating a Vibrant Ecosystem for Tech Start-ups
  • eCommerce will Continue its Fast Upward Growth
  • Digital Transformation in Retail - Case Study: Coppel
  • Mexico Offers the Ideal Setting for a Living Lab
  • Digital Transformation in Agriculture - Case Study: KYSO Agritech
  • The 5 Pillars of Digitization will Drive Mexico’s Automotive Sector
  • Digital Transformation in Automotive and Logistics - Case Study: Logiety
  • Mexico is LATAM’s Fintech Hub
  • Digital Transformation in Financial Services - Case Study: Kueski
  • Industry 4.0 will Boost Mexican Productivity
  • Digital Transformation in Manufacturing - Case Study: Jabil
  • Digital Transformation in Manufacturing - Case Study: Stanley Black & Decker
  • Technological Factors Driving Innovation - Key Implications


4. Economic Trends Driving Innovation
  • Economic Factors - Three Defining Indicators
  • The Future of Industry in Mexico
  • Innovation Benefits of Emerging and Growing Industries
  • EVs will be a Small but Growing Area for Innovators
  • R&D will Complement Medical Device Manufacturing
  • Mobile will Dominate Telecom Growth
  • Green and Smart Innovation will Stem from Construction
  • eCommerce Giants are Finding Success in Mexico
  • Tourism will Continue to Thrive in Mexico
  • Innovation will be Core to Aviation and Aerospace Growth
  • Methodology for the Mapping of State Hot Spots Ripe for Innovation Activities
  • The Future of Mexican States - Innovation Quotient
  • Future of Mexican States - Mapping of State Hot Spots Ripe for Innovation Activities
  • Economic Factors Driving Innovation - Key Implications


5. The Value of Innovation
  • The Value of Innovation - Three Defining Indicators
  • Investing in Mexico’s Innovation Future will Yield Significant Dividends
  • Simulating Innovation is Fundamental to Long-Term Economic Prosperity
  • Key Areas of Innovation Investment
  • The Value of Innovation - Key Implications
  • Legal Disclaimer


6. Appendix
  • List of Exhibits

Companies Mentioned (Partial List)

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:

  • Coppel
  • Jabil
  • KYSO Agritech
  • Kueski
  • Stanley Black & Decker
  • TLogiety