Research & Innovation

With a more robust government strategy to support research initiatives and a private sector attuned to the benefits of investing in new product development, innovation is slowly becoming instrumental to Mexico’s economic growth. Since taking office in December 2012, the government of President Enrique Peña Nieto has taken steps to improve the environment for research and innovation in the country. Among the recent measures introduced was the establishment of a high-level advisory committee to support the science and research sector, and the creation of a National Entrepreneur’s Institute to improve the environment for business creation. With the government aiming to increase expenditure on research and experimental development from 0.4% of GDP in 2013 to about 1% of GDP by the time the current presidential term ends in 2018, the research and innovation field could be set to enter a new phase of development in Mexico.

This chapter features an interview with Enrique Cabrero, Director-General, National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT).