  |
  |
 El NORTE NEWSPAPER / INTERFASE29/03/2007Innovation park takes form By Palmira González  In order for a country to boost its growth, a closer linkage between universities and the private sector to make it possible to develop added value products and services, and therefore new companies and better paid jobs, experts agree. All over the world, this idea is embodied in technological or scientific parks where virtuous circles of knowledge and wealth are generated. Although this model has existed for over 20 years in other countries - from Silicon Valley in California, to Shongguancun Scientific Park in China - in Mexico, the first such project was consolidated as late as 2006. On the highway to Monterrey's International Airport, construction work of the Park for Technological Research and Innovation (PIIT - Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica). Spaces for UANL (Nuevo Leon State's University), ITESM (Monterrey's Tech) and UDEM (University of Monterrey); two Conacyt (National Council for Science and Technology); National Polytechnic Institute's Center for Advances Studies (Cinestav); the Water Institute; a cluster of software companies, and firms such as Takata, IDZ and Nuevo Leon-based furniture manufacturers. Six months after the creation of the trust to formalize the Park, progress is evident in the construction of five building. Conacyt's Center for Industrial Engineering and Development (Cidesi - Centro de Ingenier’a y Desarrollo Industrial) has taken the lead. Its opening is programmed for May, said Reynold Gonzalez, PIIT's Director. It is followed by the UANL's Center for Innovation, Research and Development in Engineering and Technology (CIIDIT - Centro de Innovación, Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería y Tecnología), that will opened in August. The other three centers are Cinestav, the Water Institute and the Center for Research on Advanced Materials (Cimav - Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados), also under Conacyt. The Cinestav and the Water Institute will be completed by August, and the Cimav in December. Monterrey's Tech is already doing earth moving work and to start construction and expects to open in September 2008, confirmed Rafael Rangel Sostmann, ITESM's system principal. Next year, Monterrey's IT Cluster will also open up. It will comprise some 42 software developing firms. UDEM has not confirmed the date to start construction work. Park infrastructure shows 85% progress, declared Mr. Gonzalez. Some pavement tracts are still pending because a power network is to be installed. It will come from a substation that will be connected to Dulces Nombres thermoelectric plant. Also, the first of three water treatment plants will be installed. Together, these plants will ensure no discharges are made into the public sewerage network. Now, one of the priorities of PIIT directors, is to find an anchoring firm to help positioning the park so as to attract more companies. |
|
 |
