Fostering Innovation in Mexico

September 1, 2014

Over the past decade, Mexico has launched important structural reforms and signed free trade agreements to open the economy further. A manufacturing and services economy has emerged, replacing the old commodity and agricultural-based economy, and the country has enjoyed significant macroeconomic stability and a growing middle class. Despite these advances, Mexico continues to face significant challenges to achieving greater productivity and competitiveness, and lags significantly behind other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries in many science and innovation performance indicators.

This report describes the benefits of and challenges to innovation in Mexico and provides policy recommendations designed to bolster innovation in Mexico.