Updating the engineering professional is not only about knowing the state of the art in new technologies, but also about understanding the industrial ecosystem that surrounds them. This includes knowing where the regional plan is going, for example, the current investment in the automotive industry in Mexico. It is also essential to investigate and know the type of companies that are in the country and the role they play in the global industry, such as OEMs and Tier 1.

Having this knowledge about the region and its context on the world map, allows us to know trends in technologies that are applicable, and also how we can promote technological development in Mexico. R&D (Research and Development) in Mexico continues to advance slowly and it is predicted that this will represent a greater added value to this sector as well as more competitive salaries. A recent study by ATKEARNEY in collaboration with CONACYT (http://conocer.gob.mx/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/automitriz.pdf) found that only 6% of the total number of employees in the automotive industry are focused on R&D while 55% are focused on manufacturing and processes. The rest are focused on logistics and operational positions.

There is a great opportunity for growth in the area of R&D in Mexico and there are several success stories such as the Research and Product Development Center at FORD Cuatitlán Izcalli, which has had an impressive growth in high value-added projects in product development. This has a great impact on the region, making technological development in the automotive sector more attractive and competitive, as well as generating more high value-added jobs.