Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto dropped into Guadalajara this week to cut the ribbon on a unique facility that will serve as a focal point for the development of innovative technology-and design- oriented projects in Jalisco.
The eight-story, 10,000-square-meter edifice is to be known as MIND (Centro México Innovación y Diseño) and is located to the rear of Expo Guadalajara, across from the Westin Hotel.
Space primarily will be allocated to business chambers, design and research centers and universities. Some 50 organizations from 25 business sectors are expected to converge at MIND.
A key aim of the 200-million-peso hi-tech center is to provide resources to traditional industries in Jalisco to allow them to become more competitive in the global marketplace.
The building will be divided into separate “clusters.” They include “Moda” (textiles, clothes, footwear and jewelry), “Gourmet” (food production, restaurants, tequila and agribusiness), “Alta Tecnología” (electronics), “Logistico” (imports, exports and cargo handling), “Habitat” (housing and construction), “Mueblero” (furniture) and others.
A stylish coffee house, La Borra del Cafe, is being kitted out on the ground floor of the building and is expected to open in the next few weeks.
The project has been developed by the Consejo de Camaras Industriales de Jalisco (Jalisco Council of Industrial Chambers) and has counted on funding from both the state and federal governments.