Panama has a real opportunity to insert itself into this value chain by taking advantage of its competitive advantages, such as our privileged geographical position or advanced logistics infrastructure” Dr. Ortega Barría
Representatives of the National Commission for Innovation in Microelectronics and Semiconductors of Panama, led by the Minister of Commerce and Industries, Julio Moltó, and the national secretary of the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (Senacyt), Dr. Eduardo Ortega Barría, were received in Jalisco, Mexico, on July 21 and 22 to carry out the “Panama-Jalisco Technological Mission: Semiconductors 2025”.
The mission included visits to the Government Palace of the State of Jalisco and to a series of institutions specialized in technologies such as INTEL Guadalajara Design Center, CINVESTAV, SmartSol, Circuify, NXP and the Technological University of Jalisco, with the aim of exploring opportunities for collaboration in training and technology transfer, collaboration in the post-production phase, collaboration mechanisms in R&D projects and learning about best practices of high-tech design to replicate efficient models.
The state of Jalisco has been a manufacturing center since the 1960s, with the establishment of operations of companies such as Kodak and Motorola, and since the 1990s it has become a leading center in software development, with the establishment of companies such as HP.
Jalisco currently houses the largest high-tech cluster in Mexico, with more than 600 multinational and national companies and is a leader in the country’s semiconductor activity with 30% of foreign direct investment in this sector, 70% of national market share in semiconductors and 90% of the semiconductor design activity.
Jalisco is known as the “Silicon Valley of Latin America”.
“This mission was born with the purpose of strengthening ties of cooperation with one of the most dynamic technology and manufacturing ecosystems in Latin America, and identifying concrete opportunities to integrate Panama into the global semiconductor value chain,” said Minister Moltó.
“Semiconductors are the key element in modern electronics because they are present in countless devices and systems and Panama has a real opportunity to insert itself into this value chain taking advantage of its competitive advantages, such as our privileged geographical position or advanced logistics infrastructure,” added Dr. Ortega Barría.
The national delegation also had the participation of representatives of the National Metrology Center of Panama (CENAMEP AIP), the Center for Advanced Technologies in Semiconductors (C-TASC) of the Technological University of Panama, the Center for Innovation in Technology and Electronics of Panama (CITEP), Ministry of Economy and Finance, University of Panama, City of Knowledge Foundation and the Specialized Higher Technical Institute (ITSE), among other members of the National Semiconductor Commission.
Panama is working on the implementation of the National Strategy for Microelectronics and Semiconductors, led by the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) and Senacyt, based on four fundamental pillars: development of human talent, strengthening of the business ecosystem, infrastructure and legal framework and security.
This national strategy aims to promote microelectronics and semiconductor activity in Panama, in order to achieve sustainable economic development that contributes to the social well-being of the population.
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