Paper short abstract:

This paper will address the current trends on scientific research and mobility in Mexico, as well as on the country’s capacity for technological innovation. The objective is to provide an answer on whether or not is possible for Mexico to achieve development with the current trends on these indicators.

Paper long abstract:

Even with a noticeable economic stability over the last 12 years, Mexico has shown limited progress to boost its economic growth by investing on R&D activities. With an investment on R&D of merely 0.43% of its GDP, Mexico is behind its Latin American counterparts Brazil (0.91%) and Chile (0.53%). Yet, some trends and indicators show that a different reality might be feasible for the country.

On the one hand, Mexico is training more engineers and scientists than ever but, at the same time, the country is currently Latin America's top "exporter" of highly-skilled migrants. The brain circulation theory portrays this dilemma as both a challenge and an opportunity, where the "brainpower" that the country has abroad indicates lack of opportunities and infrastructure, but it also may be a significant source for capacity building in the long-term.

Technology is another powerful means for innovation. Even though most of Mexican technological sophistication is limited (and based on the "maquilas"), Mexico has exports more manufactured products than the rest of Latin America put together. Moreover, the country has become one of the top places for start-ups: In 2011, Mexico was the second largest player in the Start-up Weekend Community, only behind the US.

This paper will address the current trends on scientific research and mobility in Mexico, as well as on the country's capacity for technological innovation. The objective is to provide an answer on whether or not is possible for Mexico to achieve development with the current trends on these indicators.