Jalisco has taken a firm step to strengthen its position in advanced electronics with the creation of the first State Design Park Semiconductors from Latin AmericaThe initiative, agreed between the state government and the CinvestavIt was created to develop talent, incubate local businesses, and attract high-value investment to the chip design chain.
The project is conceived in line with the federal program Kutsari and with the weight that the region already has in the design stage: the entity concentrates approximately the 70% of companies who carry out this activity in Mexico. All of this in a market that, according to industry forecasts, could reach around one trillion dollars in 2030and that benefits from alliances such as the one of chip design for AI applications.
What has been announced and why it matters
The State Administration and the Cinvestav of the IPN in Zapopan They signed an agreement to house, initially, the so-called Semiconductor State Design Park —also referred to as Jalisco Advanced Semiconductor Park (JASP)— and a headquarters of the Kutsari National CentreThis institutional framework will allow for the coordination of training of engineers, technology transfer and industry linkage.
Objectives and goals until 2030
The park will operate on four axes: “Last mile” talent development to specialize mechatronics and software profiles in circuit design; boost of startups from Jalisco design; FDI attraction strengthening the local ecosystem; and close collaboration between academia and private initiative.
In terms of results, the roadmap establishes the specialization of 3.000 professionals In semiconductor design, the creation of 10 new companies with global reach and the goal of triple foreign direct investment up to $3.000 billion. With that volume, and according to estimates from the ECLACBetween three and seven jobs could be created for every million dollars invested.
Additionally, work will be done on functional coordination with Kutsari to align training and product development efforts aimed at the needs of the public sector, integrating state and federal capabilities.
The strategy also includes expanding coverage within the value chain: by combining the design with the Assembly, testing and packaging (ATP)The state aims to capture up to 44% of the economic value of the semiconductor cycle.
Phases, infrastructure and investment
The rollout will be carried out in stages. phase zero It will be set up in the current Cinvestav facilities as a temporary headquarters and is expected to be operational by March 2026, with an initial capacity for about 40 students per shift.
At phase one A permanent building of approximately Sqm 4.600 within the same complex, with laboratories, classrooms, innovation spaces and areas for linking with companies, thus reinforcing the R&D infrastructure.
In the financial chapter, the state government has planned a phased public investment: 18 million pesos for initial adjustments and a second stage of around 50 million pesos for the new construction, with the aim of providing the park with competitive technical capabilities.
To extend its reach, the project plans satellite officesThe first one will be in the CUCEI of the University of Guadalajara, where an ATP laboratory will be installed thanks to the donation of Infineon Technologies, reinforcing the final stage of the manufacturing process.
Ecosystem and key actors
The head of Economic Development, Cindy Blanco OchoaHe emphasizes that Jalisco is already a design hub and that this platform will accelerate specialization and the creation of local businesses, while promoting the applied innovation together with the private sector.
The governor Pablo Lemus Navarro He emphasized the strategic nature of the project, not only because of the infrastructure, but also because of the "content" it will house: knowledge, technology transfer and human capital high level, a requirement that, he pointed out, large companies have been demanding to expand operations.
From the academic field, Alberto Sanchez Hernandez (General Directorate of Cinvestav) and Susana Ortega Cisneros (Cinvestav Guadalajara Unit) highlighted the center's role in advanced technological training and its commitment to microelectronics industry.
The local business community already includes firms such as Intel, NXP, Solidigma, Micron (flash memory) and InfineonWith the park and the collaboration with Kutsari, the aim is to strengthen the national design chain, to promote new design houses and boost the arrival of international projects.
Implications for Mexico and the region
By establishing the first state semiconductor design park In the region, Jalisco is strengthening its role as a technological hub and laying the groundwork for Latin American leadership in chips, with an impact on quality employment, knowledge transfer and industrial competitiveness.
Convergence with the Kutsari National Centre It will allow the development of "made in Mexico" products for public sector use, while the state-owned park will spark local business initiatives and a training offer aligned with global demand.
With clear goals, phased funding, and an institutional architecture that integrates government, academia, and industry, Jalisco aspires to consolidate itself as a continental benchmark. in semiconductor design, expanding its reach to ATP and creating an environment conducive to investment, innovation and talent.
