Strengthening innovation and

competitiveness through cooperation

between European and Latin American

regions

Geographic location

Territorial extension 184,934 km2 / 71,403 sq mi

Border line 592 km / 368 mi

Coast line 1,207 km / 750 mi

Population (2005) 2.3 million

Economically active 955,161

Median age 23

Northwest of Mexico, bordering with Arizona, USA and the states of Baja California, Chihuahua and Sinaloa in Mexico

There is rapid population growth in US regions near Sonora border.

Pacific rim economies

Economic performance2004 2005 2006 2007

Economic growth % 7.2 5.7 6 5.4

Job creation # 29,624 30,760 31,992 31,176

Foreign direct investment

M USD 638.6 1,838 137.85 544.4

Per capita income USD 6,200 7,900 8,300 9,100

Employment by economic sectorFrom 2006 to 2008:Sonora advanced 24 positions in a nationwide ranking for Economic stability (going from position 30 in 2006 to position 6 in 2008).

Growth of 81% in fixed and mobile phone penetration.

An increase of 64% in the number of Internet users.

The public expenditure on investment growth 45%

Sonora’s competitiveness agenda (Sectors)

• Knowledge-based economy• Automotive and aerospace• High technology and biotech• Information and communication technologies• Mining• Tourism• Energy

Internationalisation (Forum di Torino, Sonora-Arizona Commission for regional competitiveness, expanding partnerships through Europe and Asia)

Productive sector growth trough innovation infrastructure and knowledge development

Enhance research

capabilities

Develop and attract high-

qualified people

More access to research centers for

industry

Increase the number of

collaboration networks

Public policy to foster industry

development

Better access to knowledge

and technology

Sonora’s Competitiveness Agenda

Strength state-wide human capital system

Develop international networks and collaborative

projects

Increased regional capability on innovation and competitiveness

S e c t o r s

Forum di Torino:Facilitating innovation efforts

through international cooperation

• Sonora: A founder member of FdT.

• FdT serves as a gateway between LatAm and European regions.

• Our strategy aims to increase collaboration with European regions.

• An increase in FDT member regions is expected for 2009, bringing more collaboration opportunities.

Sonora State projects with European Regions

• Aquiculture & Seaculture with Galicia (ES)– EU – Mexico Aquiculture Network– MoU with INTERCO Aquitaine– European regions’ companies accessed to distribution

networks in USA– Joint projects to improve organic breeding capabilities

• Viticulture– Technical visits that resulted in collaboration projects

with France companies

• Forest– MoU with CIS Madeira in Galicia (ES)– Joint research project among European and Mexican

universities and R&D centres

Sonora State projects with European Regions (cont’d)

• Specific interest Tourism– The Sea of Cortes (Sonora’s coastline) has served for many

years as a research area for R&D centres and agencies from Europe.

• Water & Environment– Joint research project in remote sensing, GIS (Geo-referenced

information system), hydrology... with Institut de recherche pour le développement (France).

– Irrigation water management project funded by EC (6thFP)

• Agribusiness– Joint project with University of Almeria (ES) in Mexico. Almeria

Producers’ letter of intention to invest €1 million in protected agricultural crops in Sonora.

Others sectors of interest for collaborative projects

• Biotechnology

• Agribusiness

• Information and communication technologies

• Logistics

• Alternative energies

• Alternative tourism

European and Latin America RegionsWorking together long time ago... with a big potential to growth

• There are many joint research opportunities.

• Business opportunities arise as a result of research and development projects.

• Latin America has complementarities in terms of human and natural resources for European research and development projects.

• Emerging sectors (such as aerospace, biotech, ICT, etc.) are receiving governments’ support and funding.