For a large number of companies, it is increasingly urgent to accelerate the pace in the incorporation of technologies and innovation strategies to their production and management processes, not only to ensure their growth but also, in principle, to ensure their permanence.
However, it is not always evident that the implementation of new technologies and the development of infrastructure alone do not solve the problem. Those who determine the path to follow and achieve results are the people; that is why if we focus a good part of our attention and resources on their training and development, we will be ensuring that investments in equipment, infrastructure and management systems will be maximized for the benefit of the company as a whole.
but how to address these issues simultaneously with the day-to-day operations of the company? It is not a simple matter, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that do not have an organizational structure like that of large corporations, with areas or departments dedicated to research and development and more recently to innovation (R&D&I) and others specialized in the training of human resources, as well as sections dedicated to the management of productive and administrative activities.
It is then that the articulation of strategies and actions of the actors of the so-called "Triple Helix" (Government, Higher Education Institutions and Business) and recently, the "Tetra-Helix" in which the Civil Society is being incorporated through social networks, advisory councils, NGO's and communities; is of great importance, so that each one of them from their field of competence and in a coordinated manner, seek attention and support to SMEs and Entrepreneurs projects.
Government agencies such as the Hidalgo Institute of Business Competitiveness (IHCE), the Council of Science and Technology of the State of Hidalgo (COCYTEH) and initiatives such as the Common Space for Higher Technological Education of Hidalgo (ECESTH); carry out workshops, seminars, discussion forums, events and activities that promote the integration of knowledge networks, education and training, entrepreneurship, scholarship programs for young people, professors and researchers, as well as support funds for SMEs to carry out innovation and technological development projects, with the support of higher education institutions and research and innovation centers.
More and more universities and technological institutes in the state are seeking a more effective linkage with companies located in their geographical area, through the integration of linkage councils, forums and seminars for insertion into the labor field; promotion of stays, internships and social service of their students in companies; in addition to the creation of academic bodies and entities that are involved in the solution of technological or management problems of companies, through the development of projects.
In this context, the Center for Italian-Mexican Innovation in High Technology Manufacturing Hidalgo (CIIMMATH) has developed jointly with governmental and academic entities of Mexico and Italy: forums for the integration of the metalworking industry, training abroad, technology seminars, technological collaboration agreements with seventeen higher education institutions of the State and the central region of the country; through which it facilitates guided visits, participation of students in stays and stays in which they have developed application projects to sectors such as metalworking, machinery, alternative energy and automotive, among others.
Courses-workshops on metal forming, welding and aluminum casting processes have been held, such as the ones that will be developed this month, with the participation of students of Aeronautical Engineering from the Universidad Politécnica Metropolitana de Hidalgo (UPMH), Mechanical Engineering from the Escuela Superior de Ciudad Sahagún of the UAEH, Mining and Metallurgical Engineering from the Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería of the UAEH and Welding Technician from the CECYTEHTepetitlán.
*President of the Board of Directors of the Italian-Mexican Innovation Center in High Technology Manufacturing Hidalgo CIIMMATH (*Ing. Marco Velasco)
