UTSA hosts Mexico-U.S. Entrepreneurship and Innovation Council April 23-25

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(April 18, 2014) -- The University of Texas at San Antonio Institute for Economic Development will host the first Mexico-U.S. Entrepreneurship and Innovation Council (MUSEIC) meeting in the United States April 23-25.

Established in 2013, MUSEIC was created as a part of the High-Level Economic Dialogue announced by President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Peña-Nieto to promote bi-national approaches to advance North American competitiveness, trade, and innovation in the entrepreneurial sector. San Antonio was selected as the council's first U.S. meeting location to showcase the city's assets for bi-national entrepreneurship and as an ideal venue to address new development policies and initiatives.

"San Antonio is a leading city connecting education, research, innovation and business opportunities between Mexico and the U.S.," said UTSA President Ricardo Romo. "It also offers the perfect venue to host this prestigious event."

The council is comprised of 24 entrepreneurship experts, 12 from each country. The members coordinate efforts to promote and develop bi-national entrepreneurship focusing on high-growth small- and medium-sized businesses, which are engines of economic development, job creation and a source of innovation for both countries.

Robert McKinley, UTSA associate vice president for economic development, was appointed co-chair of the council's committee to link programs of the U.S. Small Business Administration with its Mexican counterpart, the National Entrepreneurship Institute, led by President Enrique Jacob Rocha.

"Our goal is to kick-start deal flow to new levels between Mexican and U.S. entrepreneurs, building global competitiveness for both countries as we increasingly share innovations, market access, capital access, technologies, trade and sustainable best business practices together," said McKinley. "Last year alone, our institute's small business clients generated $439 million in trade, which created over 1,000 jobs. This growth trend will expand through collaborations with the Mexican government and institutional partners."

A memo of understanding formalizing this collaboration between the United States and Mexico governments will be signed during a community reception hosted by the Asociación de Empresarios Mexicanos, Consulado General de México and UTSA at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 24 at the Pearl Stable. Displays by exemplary Mexico-connected entrepreneurs and partners such as AEM, Geekdom, UTSA, the Hispanic Chamber and City of San Antonio will showcase San Antonio's bi-national assets during the event.

Officials of Mexico's National Entrepreneurship Institute, Secretary of Foreign Relations, the State Department, Small Business Administration and Department of Transportation will convene with council entrepreneurship experts in a closed session Wednesday evening and all day Thursday to develop policy recommendations and initiatives, at the UTSA Downtown Campus.

Last year, President Obama and President Peña-Nieto recast the U.S.-Mexico relationship to emphasize components of economic growth, education and infrastructure in addition to security and migration.

"MUSEIC moves us into the implementation phase by energizing the small business engines and connections for both our countries," said Heidi Gomez, science counselor and MUSEIC coordinator for the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.

MUSEIC members include:

United States

Mexico

Department of State

National Entrepreneurship Institute (INADEM)

Department of Commerce

Foreign Ministry

Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)

National Science and Technology Council (CONACYT), including the Center of Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV)

Small Business Administration (SBA)

Angel Ventures México

USAID

Crowdfunder México

Kauffman Foundation

Endeavor

National Business Incubators Association

Green Momentum

Omidyar

IGNIA

University of Texas at San Antonio

Impulsa México

UC Berkeley

Latin Idea

U.S.-Mexico Foundation for Science (FUMEC)

Platforma Tecnológica Mexicana

WE Connect International

Startup México

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About MUSEIC

Over the last 20 years, the United States, Mexico and Canada have established one of the most competitive and successful economic platforms in the world. The council has created a dynamic economic environment that engenders openness, innovation and cooperation. This partnership has established the foundation that allows member countries to be market leaders in an increasingly competitive global economy and ensures mutual prosperity.

The power of geography is helping the United States and Mexico shorten supply chains, reduce risk in product design and production, and reduce the time it takes to bring new products to market. This gives members, and North America as a whole, a critical advantage to out-compete other regions in an increasingly competitive global innovation economy. To maintain that edge, the Mexico-U.S. Entrepreneurship and Innovation Council (MUSEIC) is working to promote and strengthen the cross-border design and innovation system to complement the cross-border production system.

About the UTSA Institute for Economic Development

The UTSA Institute for Economic Development is dedicated to creating jobs, growing businesses and fostering economic development. Its 12 centers and programs provide professional business advising, technical training, research, and strategic planning for entrepreneurs, business owners and community leaders.

The programs serve San Antonio and the Texas-Mexico border area as well as regional, national and international stakeholders. Together with federal, state and local governments, and private businesses, the IED fosters economic and community development in support of UTSA's community engagement mission.

>> Connect with the Institute for Economic Development on Facebook and Twitter.

About UTSA

The University of Texas at San Antonio is an emerging Tier One research institution specializing in health, energy, security, sustainability, and human and social development. With nearly 29,000 students, it is the largest university in the San Antonio metropolitan region.

UTSA advances knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. The university embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property -- for Texas, the nation and the world.

 

 

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UTSA’s Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

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