Marcelo Ebrard: To increase chip production

Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard has set an ambitious goal for the semiconductor industry: to increase domestic production by 25% in just three years to secure Mexico’s place in the era of artificial intelligence. However, the path to this goal is longer than expected and involves overcoming critical challenges related to investment, infrastructure, and specialized talent.

According to Dr. Jose Jauregui Tinajero, a semiconductor expert at CETYS University, the goal can be considered “aspirationally sound,” though it requires a precise technical analysis, as he points out that the answer regarding the feasibility of such growth depends on how the concept of “production” is defined.

Mexico has a real opportunity for rapid growth because it is starting from a small base, the specialist notes; however, developing a full-fledged wafer manufacturing industry on a scale comparable to that of Asia or the United States is a much longer-term goal.

Despite the government’s ambition, the scale of investment remains a critical challenge. Ebrard revealed that there is currently a Mexican-owned company capable of designing semiconductors that has been trying unsuccessfully for a year and a half to raise US$20 million in the capital markets. In light of this, the secretary urged investment funds to support Mexican startups to enable them to scale up their production.