Outreach

The INAOE and the TecNM sign collaboration agreement

• The agreement will allow both institutions to work on training teachers on the subject of semiconductors, build the curricular map of the different academic programs in this field, develop technological projects and use specialized infrastructure.
• Our country is experiencing a historic situation with the relocation of the semiconductor industry from Asia to North America.

Santa María Tonantzintla, Puebla, September 15, 2023.- With the objective of establishing academic collaboration and developing training courses, research and technological projects, the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (INAOE) and the National Technological Institute of Mexico (TecNM) today signed a framework collaboration agreement.

The agreement will allow both institutions to work together in the training of TecNM teachers on the subject of semiconductors, build the curricular map of the different academic programs in this field, develop technological projects and use specialized infrastructure.
The signing took place at the TecNM Puebla campus. The formal ceremony was chaired by Dr. Edmundo Antonio Gutiérrez Domínguez, General Director of the INAOE, and by Professor Ramón Jiménez López, Director of the National Technology of Mexico.
On behalf of TecNM, the teacher Andrea Yadira Zárate Fuentes, Secretary of Extension and Linkage, was present; Dr. Gaudencio Lucas Bravo, Academic Secretary of Research and Innovation; teacher Marco Antonio Trujillo Martínez, Director of Linkage and Academic Exchange, and teacher Yeyetzin Sandoval González, Director of TecNM Puebla campus. On behalf of the INAOE, Dr. Daniel Durini Romero, Director of Research and Technological Development, and Dr. Bertha Patricia Guzmán Velázquez, in charge of Institutional Liaison and Planning, attended.

In his message, Dr. Edmundo Antonio Gutiérrez Domínguez, General Director of the INAOE, commented that our country is experiencing a historic situation with the relocation of the semiconductor industry from Asia to North America: “Under a strategic alliance of the Government of Mexico with the "The United States seeks to bring to our country not only foreign investment in semiconductors, but also to develop our own Mexican environment in the research, technological development and industry chain in the area of semiconductors."
He added that both institutions should collaborate to promote the development of high-level human resources that can be inserted in the semiconductor sector.
Likewise, he highlighted that there are three segments in semiconductor manufacturing: the design of integrated circuits, colloquially known as chips, where there is a lot of commercial and intellectual value, the manufacturing and the testing stage.
In this sense, “Mexico now finds a very interesting opportunity in the first segment, in the design of integrated circuits, chips and sensors for multiple applications. You can also find it in the electrical testing, validation, certification part, but this does not leave out the possibility of entering the manufacturing part, not necessarily in the microprocessor part but in sensors aimed at the automotive industry and household appliances, where large investments are not required.”

Dr. Daniel Durini, Director of Research and Technological Development of this Institute, said he is convinced that this effort is for the good of Mexico, of the new generations and of a new semiconductor industry in Mexico.
Until now, he explained, a large part of the semiconductor industry has been installed in Asia: “This historical, cyclical, moment of change, of relocation of the industry, is a unique opportunity, it is a train that is crossing Mexico thanks to its position geographical and geopolitical as part of North America, and it is a unique moment to get on this train, to offer our talent, capabilities and resources to embed ourselves in the international value chain. To achieve this, alliances like this are the cornerstone because, once industries start coming to Mexico, they will need thousands of technicians, engineers and experts with particular knowledge in the area of semiconductors, and this is a tremendous challenge. . I believe that the Tecnológico Nacional de México is an essential partner, it is the largest academic institution in the country with more than 600 thousand students in its 254 campuses. The size and quality of their programs motivate us much more to this collaboration.”

Finally, Mr. Ramón Jiménez, General Director of TecNM expressed his approval with the signing of this agreement. “The Secretary of Public Education entrusted us with carrying out a series of activities to be able to first offer the diploma in the lithium value chain and the diploma in semiconductors. After months of intense work, the first diploma in Semiconductors was achieved, in which more than four thousand people enrolled. Subsequently, the study program was integrated to start Semiconductor Engineering last August in 17 technological institutes where 1,600 students are currently enrolled and on the other hand the presentation of the general lines for postgraduate courses in semiconductors.

Teacher Jiménez framed the signing of the agreement in the efforts being made at the national level to achieve scientific and technological independence: “This opens a new perspective for our country, it is a great opportunity. We sign this agreement within the framework of the revolution of consciences.”