1. Strategic Context and Mexico’s Position
The OECD report situates semiconductors as the backbone of modern digital and electronic technologies, highlighting increasing global concern over value chain concentration and vulnerability to disruptions. In this context, many economies are strengthening domestic ecosystems to enhance resilience.
Mexico already participates in semiconductor design and back-end manufacturing and is attracting growing interest from major global firms. The country benefits from strong trade openness, an experienced workforce, an innovation ecosystem with specialised research centres, and geographic proximity to major US semiconductor hubs. Additionally, Mexico hosts key semiconductor-using industries such as automotive, aerospace, computer equipment and data centres.
However, despite these strengths, the report identifies structural gaps that require coordinated policy action.
2. Institutional Fragmentation and the Need for Strategic Alignment
The OECD notes that Mexico lacks a unified national semiconductor strategy. While initiatives such as Plan México and the 2024 Collaboration Agreement among nine federal agencies represent progress, coordination remains incomplete across federal and sub-national levels.
The report recommends:
- Establishing a formal coordination mechanism across federal, state and non-governmental actors.
- Developing a national semiconductor strategy with measurable goals and milestones.
- Leveraging existing data infrastructure to monitor implementation and guide policy decisions.
Without coordinated governance, the report warns of inefficient resource allocation and risks such as fiscal competition among states.
3. Human Capital, Research and Innovation
Human capital is identified as a central bottleneck. Education expenditure declined from 5.1% of GDP in 2015 to 4.1% in 2022, below OECD averages. Informality (55% of employment) further limits the skilled talent pipeline.
The OECD recommends strengthening STEM education, reducing dropout rates, expanding female participation (NiñaSTEM, Modo STEM), enhancing vocational education and training (VET), improving English-language skills, and promoting “brain circulation” while mitigating brain drain.
In research and innovation, the report advises facilitating acquisition of specialised equipment, incentivising commercialisation (including partial IP retention for researchers), and strengthening academia-industry linkages.
4. Infrastructure and Global Value Chain Integration
Semiconductor production requires reliable electricity, water management and secure transport infrastructure. The OECD recommends streamlining renewable energy permitting, improving water and wastewater technologies, and reducing security-related transport costs.
To enhance integration into global value chains, Mexico should finalise semiconductor-related information in the digital one-stop shop for investors and facilitate trade in key inputs through targeted customs programmes.
The report emphasises that, given fiscal constraints, spending should remain strategic and prioritised.
Reference
OECD. (2026). Promoting the Development of the Semiconductor Ecosystem in Mexico: Executive summary prepared for academic review. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/02c81dec-en
(Note: This document is an executive summary strictly based on the OECD report “Promoting the Development of the Semiconductor Ecosystem in Mexico”, 2026.)